‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Darkness on Umbara’ Review
This is the exact type of episode I wanted this week after two weeks of R2-D2 and C-3PO’s antics. Not that I didn’t enjoy the droids but this early in the season it was a bit much. Darkness on Umbara was about war and it showed a lot of it. The episode started with a bang and never let go leading to an exciting cliffhanger (this is the first of a four episode story-arc).
The first half of the episode was incredible as Anakin lead the clones onto the foggy planet Umbara. The sequence of all the Republic ships trying to land and being annihilated in the cloudy sky was excellent. Then the battle started as Anakin, Rex, and the clones mowed down the people of this planet. The intensity and raw style of the action reminded me of the classic opening scene of Saving Private Ryan on Normandy Beach. It made for one of the most exciting battles we have seen on this show yet. My only issue is that I am a bit confused to as of why the Republic is attacking this planet since we have not yet seen any Separatist forces. Motives aside this battle was done in a way that felt incredibly real, a hard thing to pull off in a war involving people who carry around laser swords and armies of clones.
The second half of the episode saw Anakin called off the fight to meet with Palpatine (a meeting I am very anxious to hear about hopefully next week). He was replaced by a new Jedi, Pong Krell. This new leader was the first example we have seen of a Jedi disrespecting the clones. He didn’t treat them like people. This show has always handled the clones extremely well and this was yet another example of the brilliant way these troubled characters think. I loved Rex’s speech to the general. It was truly inspiring and honestly gave me chills.
The episode ended with a great climax as the clones were attacked by Umbara’s forces once more. This was a great war episode, which is really what Star Wars is all about. I am excited to see how this story-arc plays out and can’t wait for next week’s installment. (9/10)
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mattsmoviethoughts 