- Created by Dave Filoni
- Developed by Dave Filoni and Jennifer Corbett
- Directed by Brad Rau (Supervising)
- Based on Star Wars created by George Lucas
- May 4, 2021 to Present
- Disney+
Starring
- Cut Lawquane, Captain Rex, Captain Howzer, Captain Wilco, Commander Cody, Commander Mayday, Commander Wolffe, Gregor, Scorch, Hunter, Wrecker, Tech, Echo, Crosshair, Barton Coburn-Dee Bradley Baker
- Omega-Michelle Ang
- Nala Se-Gwendoline Yeo
- Doctor Royce Hemlock-Jimmi Simpson
- Emerie Karr-Keisha Castle-Hughes
- Emperor Palpatine/Darth Sidious-Ian McDiarmid
- Lady Isa Durand-Anjelica Huston
- Mox-Daniel Logan
- Asajj Ventress-Nika Futterman
- Captain Mann-Harry Lloyd
- Fennec Shand-Ming-Na Wen
A group of clone troopers on the run with genetic mutations that help them resist Order 66 take on mercenary missions in the aftermath of the Clone Wars.
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Identity Crisis
- Directed by Saul Ruiz
- Written by Amanda Rose Muñoz
- April 3, 2024
The opening a bit with the kids on Tantiss is rather cold and creepy. And unusually unnerving for something in Star Wars. Not that Star Wars can’t get dark, but this was cold and sterile.
There’s a very dark feeling throughout this episode. Emerie’s display of ambition gets a rather effective comeuppance when she clearly realizes she has gotten more than she bargained for once she becomes head of research on Project Necromancer.
An interesting concept there which sets up a moral choice which she is clearly wrestling with. She even seems to develop a bit of an understanding of what Nala Se was dealing with its focus on Omega. There are other children involved in this, and she quickly understands that these individuals are no different to the Empire than some random animal that might be experimented on.
I like the use of classic Star Wars visual elements. What you see here are design elements that will be easily recognizable from any number of films. Aside from the scene in the town where Cad Bane first joins the story you see elements taken from Andor or even The Phantom Menace.
It can always be at tough job to create a good episode without the stars of the show in it at all. Yet they managed to accomplish just that. The closest we get to an appearance of Clone Force 99 is a brief mention or two of Omega. But the series stars are never seen on screen here.
This is one of those episodes I gets you jazzed for what’s coming next. It leaves you hungry for more. With the appearance of Cad Bane and diving deeper into Project Necromancer and thrusting Emrie into a role she didn’t quite understand and now may even be regretting it leaves you hanging but not in a bad way. And I have to say that the plot plays well into the title of the episode. This is certainly about an identity crisis.
Identity Crisis is a great story set in the Star Wars universe that is not a rousing adventure. It is much more downbeat than some of the preceding episodes and as such leaves you hungry for more.
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Point of No Return
- Directed by Nate Villanueva
- Written by Amanda Rose Muñoz
- April 3, 2024
One thing often missing from Star Wars is the cruelty of the Empire to the general population. We get plenty of how terrible the Empire can be to Rebels and those they think are Rebels but how they terrorize the average citizen in order to keep control or accomplish their goals is implied or stated yet not too often shown.
In their quest for Omega the Empire pulls out all the stops and throws an unnecessary level of force at Pabu. They destroy the livelihood and means of sustainability of the community where Clone Force 99 has been hiding just so nobody can escape, and they can keep Omega pinned to the island. Its people rely largely on fishing with the occasional off-planet travelers showing up. There is no way they can survive without their fishing skiffs.
And does the Empire care? No. Why? Because the citizens exist to serve the Empire and not the other way around. There’s the threat of even more terror to be inflicted upon them the longer it takes to capture Omega. They have absolutely no compunction about harming or killing anyone that hinders their goals. A hallmark of oppressive regimes though it gets no deeper than that in Point of No Return. I really like that element which formed the basis for this episode.
Another great episode that continues the general darkness of the previous episode.
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Juggernaut
- Directed by Steward Lee
- Written by Ezra Nachman
- April 10, 2024
Juggernaut is a nice little rescue episode. Just action oriented yet also one that moves the story forward while carried largely by the individual characters personalities.
What it also does it show the Empire as a relatively competent military organization. At least as competent as you can push it in Star Wars. As all powerful as the Empire is portrayed what Rebels or the general hero can get away with seems a little difficult to swallow if it were done more realistically. But this is Star Wars. While they are eventually dealt with they aren’t easily dealt with. And maybe in something similar to Rogue One our heroes must boost Admiral Rampart from his confinement to find Tantiss.
And then there are the scenes of the Imperial base which are dark and foreboding. Maybe even a bit on the hopeless side. I have no idea how the show ending will fit into Star Wars canon, but given everything I can imagine it’s not going to be upbeat by Star Wars standards.
Maybe not the most packed with story, but certainly action packed. And just exciting and stunning and an enjoyment to watch. I look forward to the final episodes, but also wish it wasn’t the final episodes.
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So far so good. I am certainly looking forward to how they wrap this up. As much to see the ultimate conclusion as to how it fits into preestablished lore.
Warren Watched A Movie 