October 3 2008



Episode Guide: Ambush

Episode Air No: 1
Production No: 8

Director: Dave Bullock
Writer: Stephen Melching

Episode Brief: Yoda & three Clone Troopers - Jek, Thire, & Rys - must face off against Count Dooku's dreaded assassin Ventress and her massive droid army to prove the Jedi are strong enough to protect a strategic planet and forge a treaty for the Republic.

Just got home and nice to see this up already. Although not sure how long we going to be able to keep these up - for now this how we will roll

Just finished watching this episode via torrent download.

...

This has to be the best thing on television. Unparalleled, in terms of the density of the narrative - there's so much happening and it never lets up; the quality of the modeling and lighting throughout; the designs of planets and aliens - all stylistically consistent with the films; the formal, uncluttered shot-style; and the editing which gives a ceaselessly interesting variety to every scene. Basically, it's everything I enjoy about the prequels - pure cinema. A book for the eyes.

Regarding characters and story - it's everything we've come to expect. There aren't many deviations from the Star Wars formula. It's still an expression of archetypes and familiar psychological conflicts through action and apt singular moments and one-liners in an olde tyme serial format. Again, everything we've come to expect. But over time, after we get a better idea of the arcs and broader emotional conflicts at play, there'll be more to say about the more literal aspects of the series.

I really enjoyed how the culture and personalities of the clones were dwelled upon. I like how they have their own jargon and in-jokes. And that they're somewhat self-deprecating and almost ashamed of being clones. Along with that, there were also plenty of geek-out-awesome moments throughout the episode and it was great that the musical score was filled with substantial nods to classic themes.

Whatever. Star Wars TV is finally here!

I was impressed by the way the writers completely nailed classic Yoda. His fireside chat with the clones is some of the best Star Wars dialogue I've heard in a long time. His playful and warrior personas came through at the right moments and the use of the Empire Strikes Back's Yoda theme took me right back to believing in the character.

Also, "We're too big to fit in there."
"No, we're not. Watch this!"

Oh, hell yeah! Probably my most favorite part of the episode. It's almost more ESB than ESB. Small peculiar thing, but I like the way Yoda drags his hand over the enemy-focused clone's shoulder as he walks behind him.

It reminds me of an alike fireplace scene in TMNT (1991).

Something else like that comes to mind which fits into that awesome category of subtle, under-the-radar cues or moments, is the way that the Toydarian king presents the symbolic dagger to Yoda at the end of his mission. I was caught off-guard there, thinking that he was going to betray Yoda. But it's a really smart way of showing to what degree the king values faith or whatever.

Nice first episode, the clones are stealing the show , I hope they'll keep doing it till the end of the series. The first episode didn't feel too childish (to me not at all), I think a lot of "the other fans" may want to check out the series in due time. The humor was there, the suspense was there, the action was there, the brotherhood was there.

It makes episode 3 already seam more tragic to me, even though its a cartoon. Very nice start.

Is anyone here enjoying this in HD, but in the original aspect ratio (2.35:1)? Is that option even available right now or do we have to wait for the DVD/Blu-Ray?

I double checked after watching episode I at 4:30 in the morning and yes, it appears to be anamorphic widescreen.

Special thanks to Topeka! His uploads were the source for my screencaps.

I absolutely loved the roll out of the series last night. Very impressive. I'm going to make a shameless promo for my reviews of the first two episodes. Here's a summary though:

[spoil]
[hr]
[align=left]Following the mixed reactions to the Clone Wars movie, the new series debuted with a force in the aptly titled, “Ambush” – an episode that manages to strike an almost perfect balance of action, character, humor and thematic elements. Perhaps people were underwhelmed with the big screen presentation of this series. But on the small screen, Star Wars: The Clone Wars shines brilliantly. Without question, this was Star Wars, with an immediacy neither seen nor heard in a long time … a long time.

Besides, as far as seeing Star Wars on the small screen goes, as Yoda says, “size matters not.”

...

The episode itself is tightly paced, moving with ease from the opening ambush on Yoda’s Republic ship, to his battles with the Droid Armies, to his fireside chat, and to the final climactic battle and negotiations. There’s never a sense of events plodding along or being rushed. And every scene is packed with not only action, humor and exposition, but with welcome nods to the film saga.

There is an almost apocalyptic tone to the episode which fits perfectly with Yoda’s “against all odds” gauntlet run through the droids. This growing sense of doom is perfectly offset with Yoda’s character which (finally!) starts showing signs of both his off-beat, almost irreverent humor and his Zen-like mysticism that were first displayed in The Empire Strikes Back. The effect is truly captivating and it finds its ultimate expression in that fireside chat between himself and his Clonetroopers.[/align]
[hr]
[/spoil]

Whoa.

I was impressed by the first episode in a way I didn't expect. Very tight narrative that I can see appealing to both children and adults alike. Not much too add to what's already been said.

I'd have no problem shiting all over the show if it deserved it, but I'm glad to say it doesn't. I hope it gets deeper and darker.

Bring on the Star Wars torture porn! Am I right?

I don't think the series, or the films for that matter, need to rely on overt displays of depraved or twisted psychology to be enjoyable or engaging. There's plenty of that in the real world. Sometimes what I enjoy about art is how it deals with disturbing subject matter and immorality while not promoting or sensationalizing it. It does this by making connections to our world in indirect and clever ways that emphasize the psychological dissonance of such reprehensible acts or evil rather than simply showing lots and lots of blood and guts.

So far in the series, there have been plenty of moments that are just as dark and ugly as some of the things in the films. Some examples: the sheer cowardliness of Ventress when her plans are foiled, despite how cordial and rational she seemed throughout her meeting with the Toydarians; the amusing casuality with which the pod-hunting droids carry out their mission; the way in which Dooku is able to rule Mr. Grievous, one of the most physically intimidating characters in this whole mythology, by fear; Dooku's alteration of the term "escape pod" in that particularly menacing order; the blunt way in which the escape pods are destroyed and passengers dispatched into space; and lastly, the clones' occasional lack of self-respect, reacting to their essentially slave-like class.

There's plenty here and I'm sure there's more to come in the series. The thing is, it likely won't be that obvious or transparent - like most grave crimes.

Very enjoyable. You never know how well a new series will go, how long it'll take to find it's feet, but this was enjoyable.

Thanks for the links Topeka.