We’re back with the Hondo Caravan for another arc of the Lost Missions. This time, we’re focusing on Padmé as she goes to negotiate with the Banking Clan and encounters an old acquaintance along the way and then heading off to a strange planet with a very unlikely duo.
An Old Friend
Our previously segment fills in viewers on what’s been happening lately. The war has displaced thousands of people and now Padmé must negotiate with the Banking Clan to secure a loan to help support them. Of course, there’s just one problem: the Banking Clan’s special representative who isn’t a Muun but rather Clovis. Yes, that Clovis. (Don’t trust him, Padmé!)
I don’t understand why people think that political episodes are boring. How can they not appreciate the intrigue in these sorts of arcs?
The idea that the Banking Clan itself is flailing about for money is fascinating. I choose to believe that they miss the influence of Darth Plagueis. It all makes sense that they’d be doing everything in their power to hide it. What does confuse me are two things. First, why did they verbally agree to the loan to the Republic in the first place and second, how did Clovis get hooked up with them? I suspect that there is an equal chance that these will or will not be answered in coming episodes.
A couple of assorted thoughts: I love that they finally brought in one of Padmé’s handmaidens again even though she did end up being the sacrifice. I also love how the artists on the show can take Padmé’s outfits from the films and tweak them just enough to make them look new and interesting and yet recognizable. Finally, Anakin acts like an overgrown child way too much. It’s a miracle that more people didn’t pick up on the depth of his feelings for Padmé than the handful who did. I’m also shocked that they keep giving Anakin missions that involve her.
The Rise of Clovis
First and foremost, I appreciate that Sidious has an informant within the Banking Clan. It makes sense that he’d still have some sort of tie there given who his master was.
Anakin Skywalker needs to calm down. Why did no one ever teach him how to not act like an overgrown child? I’ll admit that Clovis definitely knows how to push both of their buttons but oh man does he need to learn how to find some calm and inner peace. Part of the problem is that Anakin and Padmé’s secret marriage is not a particularly healthy one mostly because they have to keep it a secret. But this is not the place for a treatise on that ship.
Side note before we proceed: it hurts that they showed Luminara in the background and yet we know nothing about her reaction to Barriss’s horribly out of character actions last season. She must be heartbroken.
Everyone is making a very large mistake by nominating Clovis to take over the banks. On what planet could this possibly be a good idea? He’s proven to be a traitor to the Republic already. Shouldn’t the Separatists agreeing to his nomination be a giant red flag? How is it that the entire Senate can be so easily swayed regardless of whether or not they are under the control of a Sith Lord?
And why did Padmé go to the opera with Clovis? Giiiiiirl you need to get your head in the game.
At least Bail Organa is keeping a steady head on his shoulders. Someone has to.
Crisis at the Heart
Was there any other way this arc could have ended? I think not. Perhaps Clovis could have died in another way but he was bound to die at the end. After being manipulated by Dooku into taking the fall for Sidious’s plan, there was nothing else that could happen. Now Palpatine has control over the banks. This is how liberty dies: to the cries of ‘long live the banks’.
This was another good arc, my issues with Anakin and Padmé’s personal issues aside. Yet again, we get to see Palpatine doing what he does best: manipulating. I also like that Anakin seemed a bit more unbalanced in this episode. I know that goes against everything I wrote about the previous episode but the more I think about it, the more it makes sense. He’s just lost his padawan which already leaves him emotionally raw and it’s pushing him further towards the dark side. In previous Clone Wars episodes, I thought he’d actually seemed a bit too stable for how he ends up in Revenge of the Sith. As painful as it was, Ahsoka leaving was good for the story. More specifically, it was good for Anakin’s character arc to help get him to those final days of the Republic.
The Disappeared
If you were to ask me who the most unlikely team up in the Star Wars universe, Mace Windu and Jar Jar Binks would have been so unlikely that they wouldn’t have even crossed my mind and yet here we are with two episodes staring them?
Honestly, I’m just as confused as Obi-Wan as to why this Queen specifically requested Jar Jar Binks. I’m equally confused as what sabacc game Mace must have lost to draw this mission.
OH SWEET FORCE I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO UNSEE JAR JAR KISSING THE QUEEN.
Okay. I can absolutely be an adult here. No more gifs.
This episode was actually surprisingly entertaining. Obviously, it was filled with a fair amount of the usual Jar Jar antics although perhaps a bit less than in previous episodes but it somehow worked. There were times though where it was like I can read Mace Windu’s mind. Inside, he’s saying “Take me back to Haruun Kal. That would be better.” That said, it was interesting to watch those two work together to find the disappeared natives including the Queen. I’m not entirely sure how I feel about the heavy use of mysticism but I can get past that.
I do, however, find it most interesting that one of the bad guys took the Queen with him into a spaceship. I’d assumed that they were primitive natives who just lived underground.
The Disappeared Part II
Prophecies can never go well. Never.
I’m mostly just confused as to how someone can steal the living Force. Isn’t it in all things? Binding them together and whatever else Yoda said in Empire Strikes Back? Maybe I’m over thinking things and should just enjoy the episode because I can absolutely wave it all off in exchange for the Mother of the Nightsisters being involved in this. This makes the mysticism from the previous episode sit a bit better with me since it’s all connected.
Honestly, I’m surprised by how much I enjoyed these episodes. I feel like the writers finally figured out how to have the right mix of Jar Jar being a bumbling idiot and competent enough to keep getting involved in galactic events. It actually makes sense that they were able to save the Queen and defeat Mother Talzin. I’m honestly not even sure what else I can say about these episodes except that I’m glad we finally got to see more of Mace Windu. It felt like he was a bit neglected during the series.
Whew. And that’s it for the next two arcs. Next up, the Yoda arc which also happens to be the final mission and then, for the first time in my life since November, there will be no more Clone Wars waiting for me. Wow. That’s going to be a really weird feeling.
