Star Wars: The Clone Wars – “The Unknown” REVIEW

What’s going on Fanbros and Fangirls! It’s me the Boman12L. I have spoken to the powers that be and they have given me the OK to run this little feature. So for the next few weeks (as long as everything goes well) I will be breaking down the final thirteen episodes of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Yes, you can binge watch the whole season now if you like, but any good Jedi knows that patience is a virtue of a true master.

By now, you have heard the news and seen the trailer. Now the final thirteen episodes of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, along with the entire series, are up on Netflix for your viewing  pleasure. The Clone Wars is a very interesting property. The movie that introduced the series is horrible. The animation is stiff,  most of the voice actors are not comfortable in their roles yet, the plot is a hog posh that feels like four episodes vaguely stuck together to make a 90 plus minute run time, if only to justify the ticket prize. However, the show endured and not only made something of itself, but also Lucas’ wonky prequel lore.

Over the course of six seasons, the team on The Clone Wars did a great job making audiences care about the war and the people fighting it – mainly the clone troopers.  Limitations spark creativity and for essentially the same person, the writers on the show worked tirelessly to give each clone different looks and personalities. Each clone tries to show their individuality in their own way. More than anything else they formed bonds, friendships and brotherhoods with one another. It lessens feelings of expendability when the clone troopers die. “The Unknown” explores this shared brotherhood again, along with foreshadowing bigger events in the Star Wars lore.

The episode starts off with another massive space battle. Republic forces are attacking a Separatist space-station that encircles an entire planet. Landing forces, led by Anakin Skywalker and two Jedi sisters Tiplar and Tiplee, try and push their way to the station’s control center to end the conflict. All is going well until a clone trooper named “Tup” executes Tiplee for no apparent reason.  The Republic forces retreat and Tup’s actions do not go unnoticed by the Separatist general, who reports this action to Count Dooku. While we may know that Tup’s action are related to the infamous “Order 66” from Revenge of the Sith, Anakin and his forces believe this might be some new form of biological warfare on clones and needs to be investigated. Tup is sent off to be examined at a medical facility; however, the medical shuttle carrying Tup is intercepted and attack by Separatist forces. Leaving it up to Anakin and clone troopers Fives and Rex to get Tup back before the separatists get away with him.

This episode, once again, shows the comradely of the clone troopers, especially Fives and Rex, who have been staples on the show going back to season one. Tup’s actions have a profound effect on the rest of the clones and a great foreshadowing to what comes later.

The action is superb, something audiences have come to expect from The Clone Wars throughout its run. While the opening space battle maybe short, it still features some expansive shots. The same goes for the battle on the space station filled with an impressive number of clones and droids. Since it’s premier, The Clone Wars is hands down the best looking CGI show and the use of 3D allows for some pretty impressive camera angles. The droid raid on Tup’s medical shuttle and Anakin’s subsequent rescue are great to view, even in their brevity.

“The Unknown” is a great start to the final season and hooks audiences early by exploring one of the most contested and confusing parts of the prequel lore.