The set up for this episode is quite simple. Ziro the Hutt, who was imprisoned in the animated Clone Wars movie that kicked off the series, wants to be out of prison. To do so, he’s hired Cad Bane and his team of Bounty Hunters (including the redoubtable Aurra Sing) to capture a number of Senators as hostages to trade their lives for Ziro’s freedom.
Cad Bane arrives and takes control, much the way you’d imagine based on the clips they’ve given us. The twist for the episode comes when we find Anakin in Padme’s office taking a break and sharing a tender moment with Padme. In a vain and hamfisted (but entertaining) way to show to Padme that she’s more important to him than his duty, he offers her his lightsaber, “This weapon is my life,” he says, “and I want you to have it.” This is the most literal a laser sword has come to being a phallic symbol.
She takes the lightsaber but is suddenly whisked out of her office by Bail Organa and right into Cad Bane’s trap.
Anakin is left to rescue them all with no lightsaber.
It doesn’t work out so well for him.
The end of the episode ends with Anakin rescuing the Senators by the skin of his teeth and Cad Bane gets away with Ziro the Hutt.
To that end, the unthinkable has happened. “Hostage Crisis” has replaced “Duel of the Droids” as my favorite episode this season. The action, the characters, the drama, the thrills, the suspense, all of it was all a cut above the rest of the series. I think this episode had the best use of music so far as well, particularly the Bernard Herrman sorts of moments that created all the tension when Anakin was on the stairs stalking the Weequay and IG assasin droid.
I was pleasantly surprised by the level of violence and cold-blooded killing in this episode and it certainly put a smile on my face and I’m not actually sure why. There’s something about a Star Wars Bounty Hunter breaking a guys neck, thermal detonating a room full of clones, and shooting a Senator in the back in cold blood that makes me extraordinarily happy.
There isn’t much to say or to critique about this episode. The writers developed a consistent level of suspense and action that made sense and built to a logical conclusion, the animation was top-notch (perhaps the best in the series), the voices of the new characters (particularly Cad Bane) were well done, and the level of violence was satisfying for a kids television show.
Actually, it wasn’t just satisfying, it was downright spectacular.
The worst part of this episode though? The fact that it was the last episode until fall.
Even worse than that? The previews for season 2 inspired tears of joy and I simply can’t wait. It also seems as though Cad Bane features prominently and may very well do significant bodily harm to our dear, young Ahsoka Tano.
So, it is with deep regret that this is my last Clone Wars review until fall. Have no fear though, I’ll do a regular Star Wars column every week in conjunction with my position as the Star Wars Examiner.