Review of ‘The Clone Wars: The Jedi Who Knew Too Much’

February 18, 2013 at 12:10 am | Posted in Reviews, Star Wars, Television, The Clone Wars | Leave a comment
Tags: the clone wars season 5

“The Jedi Who Knew Too Much” broke the peaceful calm from last week’s episode and launched viewers into some intense and dramatic scenes for our favorite Jedi padawan.

Overall, I liked this episode. There were some gorgeous visuals and I liked how they moved the story forward. The last episode almost seemed like an open and shut case, but now we know there’s a lot more going on. Sure, there’s a Jedi behind it, but the real question is why is a Jedi going through such elaborate lengths to setup Ahsoka?

On the surface, I couldn’t help but feel it was a little corny when Ahsoka took her opportunity to escape. Her decision just goes against every logical bone in my body. I mean, would you really make a break for it if you were in jail and the guards left the key in front of the door? Regardless, it did provide for some fun nods to Harrison Ford’s 1993 film The Fugitive (which in turn was based off of the 1960s television series). In this case, Ahsoka was Harrison Ford’s character, setup for a crime she didn’t commit, and on the run. Anakin gets to play Tommy Lee Jones as he chases after Ahsoka, right up to the classic jump scene which nicely doubled as a nod to the upcoming Star Wars 1313 video game and it’s hole into the Coruscant underlevels.

Throughout the episode, there was quite a bit of emotion from the characters. Ahsoka started things off with some Anakin-esqe emotional outbursts in the Jedi Temple with none other than Tarkin himself. She mellows out a little with her old pal Bariss Offee, and later on freaks out when Letta Turmond dies in front of her. Anakin gets in on the emotional fun when he nearly loses his temper with Commander Fox at the prison facility. I really thought he was going to start choking people out in that scene.

One of the things that struck me with this episode was the large landscapes. There was a nice shot of the Jedi Temple, several shots of the prison facility, and in general just a lot of nice back drops that felt expansive. Even the chase scene in the courtyard felt bigger due to the inclusion of a giant war memorial. But aside from the landscapes, there were a lot of other nice visual touches: the Jedi funeral scene, the new clone trooper armor designs, and even some new creatures.

Jedi funeral rollcall: Mas Amedda, Palpatine, Mace Windu, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, Barriss Offee, Ki-Adi-Mundi, Plo Koon, Yoda, Eeth Koth, Admiral Tarkin, Admiral Coburn, Admiral Yularen, Kit Fisto, Saesee Tiin, Shaak Ti, Tera Sinube, Bail Organa, Mon Mothma, Eekar Oki, and a Weequay Jedi.

Seen in the pipes during the last chase scenes, the pikobi were based on creatures found on Naboo in the Episode I Art by Darren Marshall.

Probably the best part of this episode was the chase scene at the end. Tensions were high as clone troopers took pot shots at Ahsoka who was running for her life. Anakin was at nerves’ end constantly reminding them to take her alive. And just when it looked like Ahsoka had things in hand, the clones pulled up with that gunship and opened fire from the side doors. One action scene flowed smoothly into another, keeping the suspense just right, and forcing viewers to the edge of their seats. Honestly, I was convinced Ahsoka wouldn’t escape. Of course, with her leap of faith, that’s still to be determined.

All in all, I give “The Jedi Who Knew Too Much” a five out of five metal bikinis. The pacing, action and characters were just right. Throw in the gorgeous visuals and this episode scores perfectly.

Trivia

Over on StarWars.com they included some pretty cool trivia worth pointing out. If you look closely at the monitors in the prison control room you’ll see Emir Wat Tambor, Poggle the Lesser, General Whorm Loathsom, and a tactical droid in the various prison cells.

The memorial wall at the prison facility is actually a massive slab of Geonosian rock with the names of all the clone troopers who died at the first battle of the Clone Wars inscribed upon it.

Last but not least, that neat looking clone trooper with the strange doggy was Sergeant Hound, a Massiff Trooper. His Massiff is named Grizzer.

Reviewed By: Skuldren for Roqoo Depot.