Broken Frontier

On January 1, Cartoon Network aired two new episodes of Star Wars: The Clone Wars that shifted the series’ focus back to General Grievous who, while introduced in 2005’s Revenge of the Sith, has become a far more compelling, well-rounded—and not to mention menacing—villain on the small screen.

In the first new episode, titled “Grievous Intrigue,” the general kidnaps Jedi Master Eeth Koth and tortures him, sending a boastful transmission to the Jedi Council. While the droid general’s cybernetic enhancements allow him to wield up to four lightsabers at once, taking down an armed Jedi is no easy feat: Grievous just makes it look that way.

But in his hubris, Grievous fails to notice the beaten and battered Jedi signaling his location to his allies. He’s aboard Grievous’ flagship in the Saleucami system, and Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Adi Gallia orchestrate a rescue mission that will hopefully bring the general to justice.

Since Anakin and Grievous can’t possibly meet each other face to face in The Clone Wars, with their first meeting taking place during Revenge of the Sith, it must be frustrating for the series’ writers to keep them separated unless they’re shooting it out dogfight-style in spaceships. Conveniently, in “Grievous Intrigue,” the Jedi’s plan involves luring Grievous into a conflict with Obi-Wan on a Republic cruiser while Anakin and Adi sneak aboard Grievous’ ship to rescue Eeth. This mandatory distance between two of the franchise’s key players can be a bit distracting, but this episode fortunately never slows down long enough for us to concern ourselves with these contrivances all that much.

One of the sheer joys of The Clone Wars is its outstanding fight choreography, especially when it comes to lightsabers. In this episode, we see Anakin and Adi square off against some formidable commando droids, which, unlike standard battle droids, actually put up a fight. We’re also treated to a duel between Obi-Wan and Grievous that’s even better than their final confrontation in Revenge of the Sith. In-between saber clashes, the arch-nemeses argue over the merits of leading flesh-and-blood warriors versus mechanical ones, and make it clear that they really don’t like each other.

“I hear a lot of talking, general,” Obi-Wan says. But in the final accounting, what does all the talk get you? A futile quest for power? A mutilated body? And your place as Dooku’s errand boy!”

Oh, snap.

Of course, Grievous escapes, taking a damaged landing ship to the surface of Saleucami. In the second episode, “The Deserter” Obi-Wan, Captain Rex and a squad of clone troopers head to the planet’s surface in search of the scheming cyborg . Anakin, as one might expect from a Grievous-centric episode, remains behind.

Trailing Grievous, Rex’s team of biker scouts is ambushed by commando droid snipers, and the clone captain takes a blaster bolt to the chest. Unable to treat Rex’s injuries out in the open, the clones take him to a nearby farm where they meet a Twi’lek woman named Suu, who lets them stay in the barn. That night, while his men continue their search for Grievous, Rex is confronted by Suu’s husband Cut Lawquane, a former clone trooper who fled the army shortly after the Battle of Geonosis. Rex doesn’t take very kindly to deserters, and Cut isn’t too keen on being forced to fight in a war he has no real stake in, even if it is his sole reason for being.

Both of these characters make valid points, and The Clone Wars respectably isn’t shying away from examining the moral and philosophical complexities of war, albeit in science-fiction/fantasy setting where the opposing armies are factory-bred. Rex and Cut each make valid points, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we continue to see clones make unexpected choices and question their place in the universe.

Meanwhile, on the move, Grievous continues to display a complete disregard for his battle droids as they gradually die off due to low battery life. That’s just cold.

When Suu and Cut’s two children are introduced shortly after the clones arrive at the farm, it’s pretty obvious that they’re going to be trouble later on, and not just because they’re incredibly cloying and irritating. When playing out in the field, the kids come across a droid escape pod loaded with commando droids. They activate the droids, which chase them back to the farm. In spite of their opposing ideals, Rex and Cut work pretty well together and dispatch their mechanical assailants pretty quickly. Whether or not younger viewers absorb the message about respecting the beliefs of others, at least the action is pretty slick.

In the end, Grievous escapes and Obi-Wan isn’t too happy about it, but there is a warm and fuzzy moment between Rex and Cut as they say their goodbyes. Sure, Rex is required to report any deserters to his superiors, but his injuries might prevent him from remembering all of the details of this latest adventure (wink, wink).

“Grievous Intrigue” is clearly the more entertaining episode of the two, but “The Deserter” might be remembered as one of the better dialogue-focused installments of The Clone Wars.