Here we are with the first regular episode of Season 2, and I must say that I couldn’t be more pleased. Surely, I think there were a few missed opportunities this episode, but I thought it was an incredible piece of televised animated cinema.

“Children of the Force” picks up where the season premiere left off. Cad Bane, now in possession of the Jedi Holocron that has the names and locations of the most Force sensitive children in the Republic, is off to do Darth Sidious’ bidding in helping him create a generation of Force endowed spies to do his dark bidding. This is particularly interesting to me, as it gives the impression that Sidious was trying everything he could to accomplish his goals and not putting his eggs all into the “Vader” basket. As prescient as he was, he had no idea how long it would take him to accomplish his goals. It seems to me that this episode mines the roots of what would eventually become “The Emperor’s Hands”… Could Lumiya and Mara Jade have been abducted much in this fashion for their work as Palpatine’s assassin’s and spies?

In any case, the Jedi use their Force abilities to ascertain the locations of the children that Palpatine is having Bane abduct and race to save them. Obi-wan is too late to save a Rodian baby from Bane’s vile clutches (and I must say, Rodia was beautifully rendered), but Anakin and Ahsoka apprehend him after foiling his attempt at kidnapping a Force adept Gungan baby on Naboo. I think these two action sequences were part of the missed opportunities of the episode, they could have been much more detailed and in depth and been quite exciting.

Despite that, though, this sets up what was perhaps my favorite moment in an episode ever. Having Bane in custody and needing the location of the children and the holocron, Mace Windu, Obi-wan Kenobi, and Anakin decide that they need to use their Jedi mind powers to coerce Bane. Obi-wan notes that Bane is too strong willed for that to work, but Anakin and Mace Windu agree that being much more forceful is the only option they have left, even though that level of aggressive coercion via the Force could leave Bane with brain damage. But like I said, they have no choice. They take the Jedi Mind Trick to a level that could only be described as Jedi Mind Rape.

Bane eventually offers to take them to the Holocron. Masters Windu and Kenobi are sent with Bane to the Holocron and Anakin and Ahsoka are tasked with finding the children. Predictably, Bane has led them into a trap which enables him to escape, but they recover the crystal and Holocron. Anakin and Ahsoka find the children on Mustafar, where Sidious is outlining his plot for a regiment of “Emperor’s Hands” and save the babies before the facility is engulfed in lava.

Overall, this episode had quite a bit to offer and I’m constantly reminded by the care and attention for the source material and original movies from the writers and the artists. There is so much dialogue that is lifted straight out of the movies in exactly the right situations that make it feel just right. And the visuals in the show are so distinct, but reverent to the source material, that they’re simply beautiful to look at.

At the end of day, I’m pretty in love with this show and I hope you’re all giving it a chance. This show is Star Wars and I’m happy that this cartoon is around to live up to the legacy.

I would also like to point out that based on the previews for the next episode, it looks basically like a Star Wars take on Alfred Hitchcock’s Notorious.  Since that’s easily one of my favorite non-Star Wars movies, this will be a treat and a half next week.  Sadly, I won’t be able to see that episode on time either, as I have tickets for Star Wars in Concert.  Grrr….

To catch up on Season 1, you can preorder The Clone Wars: The Complete Season One at Amazon by clicking the link.

For other Clone Wars news and reviews of previous episodes, click this link.