A Long Time Ago, During the Clone Wars: "A War on Two Fronts," "Front Runners," "The Soft War" & "Tipping Points"

 Star Wars The Clone Wars

We wrapped season four with the Darth Maul reveal and you'd think we'd be starting season five with more of the brothers. Well, you'd be wrong. Instead, we are back to business as usual. Let's get into it.

"A War on Two Fronts," Season Five, Episode 2

"Fear is a malleable weapon."

Narrator: "Separatist takeover complete! Another Republic planet has fallen. Onderon has seceded to the Confederacy of Independent Systems. under the rule of a new king.  However, a small band of rebels have taken refuge deep within the vast and savage wilderness. From an abandoned outpost, they plot to take back the heavily fortified capital city of Iziz and end the Separatist occupation..."

Anakin, Obi-Wan, Ahsoka and Rex head to Onderon to help train the rebels but are mindful that they don't want to endorse terror tactics. The tipping point in the Council's decision to offer aid is that the rightful king was overthrown and the new king is a Separatist puppet which is why Onderon left the Republic to begin with. The rebel ranks contain Lux Bonteri, Saw Gerrera and Steela. The training isn't going the best when Separatist forces attack.

The original odd couple... Lux and Saw.

So, yeah, there is going to be some time before we check in with Darth Maul and Savage Oppress. I am just as disappointed as you are. Instead, we are getting some pretty typical "Clone Wars" stuff, but the writers are trying to put a new twist on things. We've seen the Jedi and their clone troopers assist people who are trying to take the fight to an invading Separatist army. This time they are contacted by rebels on a planet that seemingly joined the Separatists willingly. The Jedi Council is divided on how to handle this. They are concerned that by aiding these rebels they are aiding terrorism and terror tactics are never anything that the Jedi would endorse. Anakin is on the other side believing they should help anyone who wants to fight against the Separatists no matter who they are. The Council can't figure out another way to help the Onderonians so they decide on Anakin's plan to teach the rebels to employ guerilla tactics but not get involved in the actual fighting. Obi-Wan, Rex and Ahsoka join Anakin in this endeavor.

I think this is an interesting take. We know the Separatists are bad guys, but the planets in the galaxy should be free to choose which side they take and for all the Council knows that is what happened. Yes, the rebels are saying that the true king was overthrown by the Separatists, but they don't know that. Should they aid what could easily be seen as terrorism. I think the issue here is one that "The Clone Wars" runs into pretty regularly. It introduces these really big, morally gray concepts, but it refuses to do the work on them. You don't really see both sides. So, this debate really loses any impact it could have. As always, I commend the show for even talking about this stuff and bringing it up, but at some point, if your'e not going to really commit to it, then maybe you should stop bringing it up?

There are some familiar characters that pop up in this episode. Ahsoka's crush, Lux Bonteri, is a part of the rebels, which makes sense because he is Onderonian. There is the most interesting character in this quad of episodes, Steela. And of course, our favorite rebel, Saw Gerrera. This is the first appearance that Saw makes in the "Star Wars" canon and he's much younger, not yet the grizzled man we meet again in "Rogue One." The show seems to be planing some seeds for some complicated seemingly romantic stuff between Ahsoka, Saw, Lux and Ahsoka. We will have to see where all that goes.

This first episode is a lot of set up. There are a few training sequences where it doesn't seem like the rebels are going to be very good at this. Saw and Lux are clashing. Everyone is having doubts. Then, the Separatists show up and suddenly they are the best rebels ever. It's gives you whiplash a little bit. And then there are the Jedi. They won't engage the droids directly but will deflect bolts and protect them. This seems like a really thin distinction. And then the next thing we know they are successful and ready to start more brazen attacks within the capital city of Iziz. Sure.

Grade: B-

"Front Runners," Season Five, Episode 3

"To seek something is to believe in its possibility."

Narrator: "Jedi form ebel alliance! Led by Anakin Skywalker, the Jedi have trained a band of rebels to fight the Separatists on the planet Onderon. With the help of the Jedi, the rebels escaped capture and infiltrated the heavily fortified city of Iziz. Now our heroes have launched an armed campaign to subvert the Separatist occupation of he planet. The Jedi Council continue to observe and advise as the rebels strive to gain momentum against the Separatist forces. Despite the absence of civilian casualties, public fear has ensued as reports of the rebels' daring strikes circulate throughout the city..."

Obi-Wan, Anakin and Rex leave Ahsoka on Onderon to continue to monitor the rebels. Their attacks are more and more successful but instead of rallying the citizenry to their cause, they seemed to just be more afraid. The rebels devise a plan to get the citizens on their side, attacking a power station that will deal a blow to the droid army. Will they succeed?

This isn't suspicious at all.

We finally meet the puppet king of Onderon in this episode. King Rash is pretty much exactly how you'd expect him to be. He has zero charisma and is a giant tool. He sort of reminds me a little bit of a human, thinner Jabba the Hutt. And this is basically because of the way he's always munching on that weird Onderonian fruit. He brings the true king, Dendup, to the throne room believing that the rebels are working for him. Dendup lets him know there's no way he could be issuing them orders and him telling them to stand down would do nothing. This is the will of the people. Rash can't really wrap his tiny brain about this, because he knows nothing about what it means to be an actual leader. And the only reason he starts actually taking the rebels seriously is because they tried to attack the royal carriage when he wasn't in it.

We get a little bit more of the potential romantic feelings between Ahsoka and Lux Bonteri. Before he leaves her on Onderon, Anakin asks if she's going to be ok. He cautions her to put duty above her personal feelings. So, that's great. It's nice that Anakin like checks on her and trusts her to stay on Onderon. But is he really the one who should be lecturing someone on putting duty above feelings. The Jedi who is secretly married to the Senator. Come on, my guy. Pot meet kettle. I am happy that at the end of the episode that Saw is revealed to not be part of any love square since Steela is actually his little sister.

The majority of the episode is the rebels trying to take out this power station. I'm still hazy on how doing this is going to win them the trust of the people of Onderon, but whatever. There's nothing super thrilling about the whole plan and even when it seems like they might lose, there's no tension. And, Ahsoka is basically a background player this whole time. She's just kind of skulking in the shadows and sulking. I guess seeing the rebels take out these weakened droids riles something up in the Onderonians or something. OK.

Dooku is not happy with how things are going on Onderon so he sends General Kalani to take out the rebels. After their most successful and damaging attack yet, the rebels vote Steela as their leader, and Saw is really not happy about it.

Grade: C

"The Soft War," Season Five, Episode 4

"Struggles often begin and end with the truth."

Narrator: "The rebels elect a new leader! With their training complete, Obi-Wan and Anakin have left Ahsoka onOnderon to monitor and advise the rebels as they continue to strike Separatist targets under the command of Steela Gerrera. Facing an escalation of rebel attacks, the Separatists have sent reinforcements to straighten their hold on the city of Iziz as the battle for the planet unfolds..."

The rebels attacks continue with large holos of Steela appearing in the streets encouraging the locals to get involved and to demand the reinstatement of King Dendup. When Rash hears this, he's even more convinced that Dendup is behind all of this and decides to have the old king executed publicly in the town square. The rebels catch wind of this and Saw and Steela disagree on how to handle this. Saw believes they should bust Dendup out of prison now while Steela thinks they should wait and spring him at the execution. Saw won't be swayed and leaves on his own. Which sibling will be successful in the end?

Sisters doin' it for themselves.

The Gerrera siblings have been in constant conflict basically this whole arc, but it seems like things reach a boiling point when the disagree on how to handle the news of Dendup's potential execution. I'm kind of surprised that Steela just lets Saw go. She has to know that he's going to definitely go do what he thinks is right and she has to know that is going to fuck with what she wants to do. I get that its her brother and that she sends someone to watch him, but up to this point Steela's actions seem to make a lot of sense and this feels out of character based on what we've seen from her so far. 

Saw goes right to the place that Dendup is being held and breaks in. Dendup is on the fence at first when it comes to Saw coming to him and the rebels in general. He doesn't feel comfortable with them doing this in his name. It turns out Dendup blames himself for what is happening on Onderon because when it came time for him to choose a side, he couldn't bring himself to choose either. He knew the Separatists weren't the answer but felt the Republic was corrupt. His choice was made for him when the Separatists placed Rash in power. The way Dendup acts in this scene was odd to me. Like, he comes across cagey, but I'm not sure he was meant to, especially when he perks up when he hears that the Jedi are involved.

I was kind of annoyed that it seemed so easy for Saw to break in to this prison, but was mollified when it's revealed that he can't get out. Saw is tortured by Kalani for information on the rebels but the human general of Onderon's militia, Tandin, convinces Kalani to let him try. Tandin and Saw have a conversation about who is right and wrong in this situation. Tandin believes that he is since he is serving the rightful king while Saw and the rebels are just terrorists. The show again tries to have this conversation, but it falls flat, particularly when Tandin turns against Rash at the end of the episode.

The electric beheading is really kind of terrifying. For a minute there, I thought that the rebels weren't going to be able to save Dendup but they do. Ahsoka finally intervenes and reveals to everyone that the Jedi are aiding the rebels and Dendup gets away.

Grade: B-

"Tipping Points," Season Five, Episode 5

"Disobedience is a demand for change."

Narrator: "The rebels elect a new leader! With their training complete, Obi-Wan and Anakin have left Ahsoka on Onderon to monitor and advise the rebels as they continue to strike Separatist targets under the command of Steela Gerrera. Facing an escalation of rebel attacks, the Separatists have sent reinforcements to straighten their hold on the city of Iziz as the battle for the planet unfolds..."

The rebels are gaining even more support with Dendup on their side. Dendup is so impressed with Steela Gerrera that he makes her the general of the Onderonian military over Tandin. Things take a turn for the rebels when their base is attacked by heavily shielded droid gunships they can't counter and the Republic is not coming to their aid. Anakin and Obi-Wan want to help. Can they find a way around the Council mandate?

Impending tragedy.

This is probably the strongest episode of the arc, for me. I haven't talked much about her but I think the best part of these episodes is Steela Gerrera. She is a strong addition and she is the most compelling thing about these episodes. She is strong, competent and a natural leader. You just know that she's going to die tragically before this episode is over and you are not wrong. The sequence that leads to Steela's death is probably the best part of this arc. Saw is going bananas with the missile launchers that Honda Ohnaka supplied the rebels at the behest of Anakin and Obi-Wan. The droid gunship he takes out heads right for the cliff edge where Steela and Dendup are standing. Steela saves Dendup but she is knocked off the cliff, clinging to the side for dear life. Lux tries to save her, but Ahsoka steps in. Using the Force to first pluck Lux out of the way and then trying to use the Force to lift Steela to safety. In the midst of this, the gunship gets a shot off at Ahsoka causing her to lose concentration and Steela to fall to her death.

It is incredibly tragic and sad. It hits Saw hard not just because it's his sister but because he is indirectly responsible for what happened, no matter how much Ahsoka and Lux try to convince him of the alternative. Honestly, I would have liked to see Saw torture himself a little bit more over this. It's really glossed over. That being said, the emotions hit right and I'm bummed that Saw is the only Gerrera left in the "Star Wars" universe. 

The episode brings the hardcore action that we've come to expect and has been missing from this four episode arc. I was super into those flying mounts when you first see them in "A War on Two Fronts" and they are even cooler in action. I loved the first person POV flying shots.

I enjoyed Anakin and Obi-Wan using Hondo and his pirates as a way to supply weapons without the Republic getting involved. Hondo is a great character and I relish anytime he gets to be on screen. He is so like slithery and charming. His faux offense when initially talking to Anakin and the way he gets out of dodge the moment things get dicey on Onderon are part of his charm. Truly a breath of fresh air in this arc.

I'm still not sure why they made Ahsoka having feelings for Lux part of this story. It seems super inconsequential and doesn't really go anywhere. Alls well that ends well with Onderon re-joining the Republic under the renewed leadership of King Dendup thanks to the actions of the Jedi and Lux is appointed as the new Senator for Onderon, a position his mother once held. 

Grade: B

Next up, it's a four issue arc with Ahsoka, younglings and pirates.

Clearly, I wasn't a huge fan of this arc. It had its silver linings with Steela and introducing Saw. But yeah, overall? Meh. Let me know your thoughts in the comments.