While this episode started out slow it carried echos of Luke's plan, in ROTJ, to free the carbon frozen Han from Jabba's palace. I like how the Jedi had their lightsabers concealed in R2. It was a nice homage to the final episode of the Star Wars Saga.
The Zygerrian culture, with its slave markets and alpha predator mentality, reminds me of the Egyptian and Persian empires both of which thrived on slave labor. The Zygerrian queen reminded me of the Biblical feminine fatal Delilah who seduced the mighty Samson. In fact her Zygerrian counterpart did much the same thing to Anakin.
By the end of this episode the stakes had been raised and our hero, Anakin, was caught in a conundrum. With Obi-Wan and Ahsoka practically slaves he's forced to be the queen's bodyguard; and if he doesn't comply it's his friends who will pay.
I liked seeing Ahsoka Force nudge her soon to be slave master over the edge, however, once he reclaimed himself he activated a shock collar around her neck. Not a pretty sight.
I really liked Ahsoka's slave outfit of flowing blue silks and semi-precious stones. Her small head-dress dress was also a very elegant piece.
The Zygerrians used what appeared to be lightwhips. I don't think these were necessarily that. I, personally, think the whip part was made of conductive nanofiber that could rapidly retreat into the small handle.
In all it was a good episode. The only downside is now we have to wait a whole five weeks for the rest of this arc and the next episode. So . . . Until then.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Ahsoka's Slave Outfit
In next week's episode Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka sneak in the Zygerrian capitol. Ahsoka, in particular, girds herself in slave gear. This is more modest then her rather revealing slave gear from the comic which this episode was based on.I'm very fond of her outfit with its light silks and flowing form even if it does expose her midriff. It has a very Egyptian or Persian feel.
Just a thought: What if it's not slave gear and instead she's posing as a captured princess.
More on this topic in my up and coming review for "Slaves of the Republic".
I'm not the only one expressing my opinion about Ahsoka's new slave gear. For Savanna's opinion check out Lightsabers, Pandas, oh my!
Friday, November 25, 2011
"Kidnapped" Review
This was an awesome episode with high suspense moments and plenty of action; a true masterpiece even if it was based in a comic.
I've never seen so many Togruta at once and the Zygerrian slaver, Denar, Looked like a cross between the Hollywood werewolf and his accent reminded me of one Count Dracula. Denar's deadly pets seemed to re-enforcer his image as a classic archetypal villain. That and his little pet bird, in place of the cat, added a nice touch to the whole thing.
For the first time in the series we get to see Obi-Wan's hair actually move. Until now it's been nicely stationary since Season 1. And his fight with Denar in the central tower was a brutal hand-to-hand one. The way they inter-cut between Obi-Wan and Anakin was masterfully done and made the episode that much better. (Just wish they'd done something like that back during "Shadow Warrior".)
On a side note: the tower resembled fully matured Togruta morals which they use for limited echolocation.
Denar gave mention to the Zygerrian slave empire of old. I'm not to familiar with this chapter of Galactic history but, from the episode, I get the gist of it all.
Anakin's brash, almost Sith like, actions gave hint to his dark future as he confronted the slaver. And his Padawan, Ahsoka, held well against the droid onslaught and proved herself once again to be a mighty warrior.
In all it was an awesome episode with spectacular animation and masterful editing and I can't wait for next week's adventure!
I've never seen so many Togruta at once and the Zygerrian slaver, Denar, Looked like a cross between the Hollywood werewolf and his accent reminded me of one Count Dracula. Denar's deadly pets seemed to re-enforcer his image as a classic archetypal villain. That and his little pet bird, in place of the cat, added a nice touch to the whole thing.
For the first time in the series we get to see Obi-Wan's hair actually move. Until now it's been nicely stationary since Season 1. And his fight with Denar in the central tower was a brutal hand-to-hand one. The way they inter-cut between Obi-Wan and Anakin was masterfully done and made the episode that much better. (Just wish they'd done something like that back during "Shadow Warrior".)
On a side note: the tower resembled fully matured Togruta morals which they use for limited echolocation.
Denar gave mention to the Zygerrian slave empire of old. I'm not to familiar with this chapter of Galactic history but, from the episode, I get the gist of it all.
Anakin's brash, almost Sith like, actions gave hint to his dark future as he confronted the slaver. And his Padawan, Ahsoka, held well against the droid onslaught and proved herself once again to be a mighty warrior.
In all it was an awesome episode with spectacular animation and masterful editing and I can't wait for next week's adventure!
Friday, November 18, 2011
"Carnage of Krell" Review
What an epic conclusion to this awesome four part arc. This was by far the best episode of this arc. Rex's confrontation of the General bore echos of Windu's confrontation of Palpatine in ROTS.
This episode was dark both in story and in setting and the shear anticipation made it even better. This episode was shaded with hints of the sinister Order 66.
I really don't have a whole lot to say about this episode. Not because it wasn't good but rather because it left me speechless. It was just AWESOME!
Until next time . . .
This episode was dark both in story and in setting and the shear anticipation made it even better. This episode was shaded with hints of the sinister Order 66.
I really don't have a whole lot to say about this episode. Not because it wasn't good but rather because it left me speechless. It was just AWESOME!
Until next time . . .
Friday, November 4, 2011
"The General" Review
Like "Darkness of Umbara" before it "The General" was an action packed episode full of tensions between Rex and Krell. This was a truly spectacular episode full of mind blowing epic explosions and enough action to satisfy any Star Wars fan.
The giant centipede like tanks and walkers used against the clones were true feats of engineering sporting an array of multiple cannons that cover the battlefield at a full 360 degree angle. From start to finish there was nothing but all out action and explosions. And in the middle of this conflict they were able to so friction between Rex and Krell.
I was a bit surprised when clone trooper Appo made a brief appearance. There were some awesome shots in this episode; my favorite being when the camera closed in on Krell's eye with the reflection of flames burning in the iris before transitioning to the next scene.
The episode had good resolve leaving the physical battle won but the war between Krell and Rex long from over.
I thought the interface between Fives and Hard Case, when they were sneaking into the base, lightened the overall tension o the episode a bit. In all this is my favorite episode in this arc and I can't wait until next week's episode which has the potential to top this one threefold.
Until next week . . .
The giant centipede like tanks and walkers used against the clones were true feats of engineering sporting an array of multiple cannons that cover the battlefield at a full 360 degree angle. From start to finish there was nothing but all out action and explosions. And in the middle of this conflict they were able to so friction between Rex and Krell.
I was a bit surprised when clone trooper Appo made a brief appearance. There were some awesome shots in this episode; my favorite being when the camera closed in on Krell's eye with the reflection of flames burning in the iris before transitioning to the next scene.
The episode had good resolve leaving the physical battle won but the war between Krell and Rex long from over.
I thought the interface between Fives and Hard Case, when they were sneaking into the base, lightened the overall tension o the episode a bit. In all this is my favorite episode in this arc and I can't wait until next week's episode which has the potential to top this one threefold.
Until next week . . .
Friday, October 28, 2011
"Darkness of Umbara" Review
This was an awesome episode that pitted clone troopers, not against cheap run-of-the-mill battle droids, but against alive organic beings. And the Umbaraian's features seemed eerily human which added a certain darkness to the episode.
General Krell, the Jedi who took Anakin's place after he was called back to Coruscant, very much reminded me of one General George S. Patton, a decorated general of the Second World War. The main personal conflicts were between Rex and Krell; this was awesome as it gave us a break from the predictable actions and reactions we're used to between Anakin and Rex. While the plot-line itself wasn't all that dark it felt more alien then previous episodes.
The eerie darkness of Umbara gave this episode a very dark feel and the native's weapons bore a very outlandish and alien appearance almost like the Covenant weapons from the Halo universe.
This episode also saw the introduction of some new clones, one in particular being Dogma, and we also got a cameo from Oddball. This episode's main focus was on the relationship between the Jedi and their clone commanders and captains and how the various chemistry of their relationships can change with substituting different individuals.
This episode felt a little like "Landing at point Rain" but set on another planet.
The camera angles in the opening battle were the only thing I had a problem with; they were to spread out and not in the heat of it all. But other then that the episode was AWESOME! So far we haven't met a commander or general for the natives and we might in a later episode in this arc.
On an action-to-visuals ratio this episode scored high and the same goes for character conflicts. As of yet there isn't much at stake for the characters but like everything else that could change. In all this episode is by far the best this Season and I can't wait to watch the other three in this arc. Until next time!
General Krell, the Jedi who took Anakin's place after he was called back to Coruscant, very much reminded me of one General George S. Patton, a decorated general of the Second World War. The main personal conflicts were between Rex and Krell; this was awesome as it gave us a break from the predictable actions and reactions we're used to between Anakin and Rex. While the plot-line itself wasn't all that dark it felt more alien then previous episodes.
The eerie darkness of Umbara gave this episode a very dark feel and the native's weapons bore a very outlandish and alien appearance almost like the Covenant weapons from the Halo universe.
This episode also saw the introduction of some new clones, one in particular being Dogma, and we also got a cameo from Oddball. This episode's main focus was on the relationship between the Jedi and their clone commanders and captains and how the various chemistry of their relationships can change with substituting different individuals.
This episode felt a little like "Landing at point Rain" but set on another planet.
The camera angles in the opening battle were the only thing I had a problem with; they were to spread out and not in the heat of it all. But other then that the episode was AWESOME! So far we haven't met a commander or general for the natives and we might in a later episode in this arc.
On an action-to-visuals ratio this episode scored high and the same goes for character conflicts. As of yet there isn't much at stake for the characters but like everything else that could change. In all this episode is by far the best this Season and I can't wait to watch the other three in this arc. Until next time!
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Shadow Warrior Review
While lacking any truly climatic battles this episode also wasn't overbearing on the politics either. In all, a good compromise for both.
Jar-Jar has been toned down lately and his role in this episode wasn't as exaggerated as it was in, say, "Bombad Jedi" and "Gungan General". The plot was very dark and Jar-Jar's comic relief was used sparingly.
This episode was, I thought, full of references and motifs to "The Phantom Menace" and "Attack of the Clones", but more of the former. And the Gungans' fight with Grievous was well done, and the rain added a nice foreboding feel to the conflict. Tarpal's sacrifice in the ensuing fight only added more weight to the episode.
The prisoner trade off of Grievous and Anakin, while not completely defying established canon, came very close to doing so.
I though Rish Loo's role was cliche, being the manipulating adviser and all, and like all minor minions under the Sith met his end at Dooku's blade. The fact that Jar-Jar, a klutz, had to fill in for his people's Boss leader spelled an interesting story from the start.
As for the animation, the smoking orbs in Rish's office added a very sinister effect to the room and the same can be said for the hovering lamps in the adviser's secret lab. The final fight between Anakin and Dooku seemed to hark back to their duel in "Attack of the Clones" where Anakin lost his arm to the Sith. And Dooku's remark; "The Sith control everything. You just don't know it." mirrored his conversation with Obi-Wan back in Episode II.
In all it was a good episode. As I said before it felt like "The Phantom Menace". Hopefully later in this Season there will be an episode, or series of episodes, with a more "Revenge of the Sith" feel.
Jar-Jar has been toned down lately and his role in this episode wasn't as exaggerated as it was in, say, "Bombad Jedi" and "Gungan General". The plot was very dark and Jar-Jar's comic relief was used sparingly.
This episode was, I thought, full of references and motifs to "The Phantom Menace" and "Attack of the Clones", but more of the former. And the Gungans' fight with Grievous was well done, and the rain added a nice foreboding feel to the conflict. Tarpal's sacrifice in the ensuing fight only added more weight to the episode.
The prisoner trade off of Grievous and Anakin, while not completely defying established canon, came very close to doing so.
I though Rish Loo's role was cliche, being the manipulating adviser and all, and like all minor minions under the Sith met his end at Dooku's blade. The fact that Jar-Jar, a klutz, had to fill in for his people's Boss leader spelled an interesting story from the start.
As for the animation, the smoking orbs in Rish's office added a very sinister effect to the room and the same can be said for the hovering lamps in the adviser's secret lab. The final fight between Anakin and Dooku seemed to hark back to their duel in "Attack of the Clones" where Anakin lost his arm to the Sith. And Dooku's remark; "The Sith control everything. You just don't know it." mirrored his conversation with Obi-Wan back in Episode II.
In all it was a good episode. As I said before it felt like "The Phantom Menace". Hopefully later in this Season there will be an episode, or series of episodes, with a more "Revenge of the Sith" feel.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)