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This week’s episode, Defenders of Peace, is the second part of a two episode arc. It picks up where last week’s episode left off, with Anakin wounded and in the care of the pacifist-to-a-fault Lurmen. He’s accompanied by fellow Jedi Aayla Secura, his padawan Ahsoka Tanno and two clones, Captain Rex and Commander Bly.
Much to the dismay of both the Jedi and the peaceful Lurmen, a Separatist war ship arrives planetside, intent on testing a new weapon designed by the evil Lok Durd (voiced by Star Trek’s George Takei). Durd has developed the “defoliator”. It’s a piece of artillery that destroys all organic matter but leaves machiner (namely battle droids) free from harm. Their aim is to test it on the small Lurmen village that hid the Jedi.
Predictably, the Jedi can’t let this happen and do all they can to protect the village, despite their moral protestations.
This was another great installment of the series. It felt very much like a mix between Seven Samurai (with the small group of Jedi defending a small peaceful village of farmers from Separatists) and an old school war movie like The Guns of Navarone (with the Jedi and the clone troopers leading a daring covert operation behind enemy lines into a heavily fortified Separatist compound.)
I really like how the writers seems to be relying on older war films and serials to guide them through this series in a really, really great way. They’re able to mix humor for the kids (my boy was laughing hysterically at the antics of the droids) with classic film references and strong, well-animated action sequences for the adults like me.
The episodes are getting much more epic in scope as far as the wider galactic conflict is concerned and it’s really working well for me.
My favorite moment of this episode? The infiltration of the Separatist base under the cover of night. It was an incredibly well designed and laid out action sequence and it did all the cool stuff you love to watch Jedi and clones do.
As for next week, that episode, at least design, costume, cinematography, and lighting-wise, looks like the best episode so far. It’s called Trespass and there’s a preview for it here on the Star Wars website.
Responses to “REVIEW: Clone Wars – Episode 14 “Defenders of Peace””
on January 24th, 2009 at 7:48 am said:
This episode was a let-down after the excellent part one. The story was a little too predictable and the whole pacifist/peacekeeper philosophy struggle just didn’t work for me, considering that it was a fight against non-living droids. Plus, their fighting style was about as non-violent as you can possibly get. Are you really saying that Lurmen leader wouldn’t knock over a toaster if it meant saving his peoples’ lives?
Maybe they should have thrown in some a handful of Neimoidian soldiers as part of the invasion army, or something.
Still, there was a lot to like. The action, as always, was very well done. I liked the bioweapon blowing up over the shields, and George Takei is always cool. Next week’s episode looks better. We’ll see how it goes.
on January 24th, 2009 at 1:13 pm said:
I agree, them not fighting against inanimate machines didn’t make much sense, but the young Lurmen figured things out by the end.
Next week’s episode looks amazing….
on January 24th, 2009 at 1:22 pm said:
I agree as well, however, the three Jedi running out into a swarm of clankers was pretty badass at the end. But you’re right, it was a let down after a great part 1. Still good though, still a huge fan.
on January 24th, 2009 at 4:11 pm said:
I don’t know, I loved Jedi Crash but it certainly wasn’t one of my favorites. Anyway, last night’s episode was absolutely awesome. Loved everything about it. Interesting to think about how the Lurmen are now known to the Republic and who knows what the Empire might do to them a few years down the road.
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