We have finally reached the final episodes of Clone Wars with the Siege of Mandalore arc! We have the Lucasfilm Limited Production title. This leads to the explosive Clone Wars opening now in Sith red letters and then the title “Part I: Old Friends Not Forgotten.” This is a change from previous episodes so it looks like the closer to the series. Also, no moral connected to the story. The narrator explains the Outer Rim Sieges. General Grievous is leading the droid armies. We get a meeting of the Jedi Council with Yoda and Mace Windu. The others are in hologram including two clone troopers, Aayla Secura, Ki-Adi Mundi, Depa Billaba whom also has a young Padawan. She did have Caleb Dume (later known as Kanan Jarrus in Star Wars: Rebels) as an apprentice. The next events for this Jedi Master and apprentice are in the comic book, Kanan: The Last Padawan #2 (2015). We see scenes that will later show the conclusion in Revenge of the Sith; Plo Koon (who discovered Ahsoka Tano) flying to Cato Neimoidia, Aayla Secura on Felucia.
Then, this moves to the battle on Yerbana, where droid tri-fighters fly past the bridge battle. Commander Cody is flying against them. We first saw him Revenge of the Sith and he has been in many battles and episodes in the Clone Wars series. The clone fly gunsships and Z-95 Headhunters, these fighters were introduced in the novel Han Solo at Stars’ End (1979), and made canon in the Clone Wars episode “Darkness on Umbara” (2011). The clone troopers are fighting a desperate battle on the bridge. A missile descends on a trooper, but we see the lightsaber of Obi-Wan Kenobi destroy it! The smoke parts under his lightsaber. Obi-Wan orders Commander Cody to retreat. Cody says they can’t find the tactical droid. Anakin walks fearlessly up to Obi-Wan. He says that he and Captain Rex finished their battle and came to help. Anakin walks out to the battlefield and the droid commander calls for a cease fire. All of the cannons are aimed at Anakin until he declares he has surrendered. R2-D2 sees what is going on and reports to Captain Rex and the rest of the clone troopers clinging to the underside of the bridge. The tactical droid says that it is a trap and Anakin gives the signal to Artoo.
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STAR WARS: CLONE WARS -- “Old Friends Not Forgotten” -- Disney/Lucasfilm.
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Anakin uses the Force to pull the tactical droid to him and severs the droid with his lightsaber! Captain Rex and his troopers using jet packs take apart the droid army and Obi-Wan sends in his troops. Anakin stands confidently as Obi-Wan joins him. This team work would usually be with just Captain Rex and it is more like Anakin’s relationship with Obi-Wan in Revenge of the Sith. Anakin is contacted by Admiral Yularen who says they have a transmission from Fulcrum. This makes Anakin thinks it’s Saw Guerrera and Obi-Wan notes that it must be from Onderon. Saw Guerrera was introduced in “A War on Two Fronts” (2012), but we also know that he shows up in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016). Yularen recalls both of the Jedi to his Star Destroyer. Anakin and Obi-Wan walk up and then are stunned to see a holographic image. It is of his former Padawan, Ahsoka Tano!, I’ve seen this preview at D23, but this was dramatic! Ahsoka greets him, but Anakin is speechless. She tells them that Maul has been found by herself and Bo-Katan. There is so much back story to catch up on with Maul, Bo-Katan, and the Mandalorians so I hope everyone has watched everything!
In the Venator-class Star Destroyer landing bay, Anakin tells Obi-Wan that Ahsoka was in the right place, meaning that Maul will be captured. A Mandalorian shuttle lands and R2-D2 goes to meet Ahsoka whom she called Artoowy, but the times for fun is over. She isn’t there for a reunion and Bo-Katan needs to find Maul. Bo-Katan has tracked Maul to Sundari the capital city of Mandalore. She admits she doesn’t have enough troops to take the city. Bo-Katan fears Maul’s escape and wants to offer Maul so she can take Mandalore. Obi-Wan is cautious in bringing in Republic troops since that will break a treaty with Mandalore. He wants to contact the Jedi Council, but Bo-Katan wants immediate action so her world can be free of Maul. She brings up her sister, Satine Kryze, which cuts deep, but Obi-Wan is a true Jedi and isn’t swayed by his emotions like Anakin. Ahsoka is alone with Anakin and he takes her to a surprise. Clone troopers salute Ahsoka which Anakin says shows their respect even though she left the Jedi Order. Then, the blast door opens to show rows of clone troopers, a company, with helmets in honor of Ahsoka Tano. Such loyalty!
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STAR WARS: CLONE WARS -- “Old Friends Not Forgotten” -- Disney/Lucasfilm.
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Captain Rex greets his former commander and brings a box that Anakin hands to Ahsoka. Then, alarms blare from the ship!, Obi-Wan rushes in to tell them that General Grievous has attacked Coruscant! This is another Canon Correction! Previously, Obi-Wan and Anakin were at two other places; Cato Neimoidia which was hinted at in Revenge of the Sith), in the novel Labyrinth of Evil (2005), and Nvelvaan where Anakin had a vision of his future as Darth Vader in the Genndy Tartakovsky Clone Wars. Obi-Wan also mentions that Shaak Ti was sent to protect Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. Which strangely brings the Tartakovsky back to canon. This frustrates Ahsoka with the Mandalore situation, Anakin tries the resolve the dispute with Obi-Wan, he says that Rex can be promoted to Commander and that Ahsoka can go as advisor. Anakin’s solution is quite brilliant and wothy of a compromise made by Obi-Wan who agrees to it. He mentions has killed Maul and that they should capture him. He shows Ahsoka the box again and she opens it to find her two lightsabers! She ignites them and finds that they are both blue!
Her previous lightsabers were green and yellow. The green blades are for Jedi Consulars like Yoda, the yellow is for Jedi Sentinels, and blue are Jedi Guardians like Obi-Wan. This is one of the most important Clone Wars episodes! Former master and apprentice say their goodbyes. The Venator Star Destroyer hovers over Mandalore and dispatches gunships and Kom’rk-class fighters. Rex gets a transmission from Prime Minister Almec (Julian Holloway), he was last seen in “The Lawless” (2013). He mentions the broken treaty and that Bo-Katan working with the Republic will make her an enemy to the pople. At the dome city of Sundari, armored Mandalorians gather for the battle, Almec has Gar Saxon (Ray Stevenson) and Rook Kast (Vanessa Marshall) prepare for it. Bo-Katan contacts Ursa Wren (Devar) about Maul, she of course is the mother of Sabine Wren, working with Bo-Katan in the previous episode. Missiles destroy several gunships and the Mandalorians leap out to fly in their rocket packs. Bo-Katan joins the battle and Ahsoka jumps out challenging Rex to get to the surface first. Um, Ahsoka gets a really cool moment and it looks like the Siege of Mandalore has just begun!
Five Lightsabers out of Five (I would give it Seven out of Seven if I could)!
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