Episode 5×05: Tipping Points
Directed by: Bosco Ng
Written by: Chris Collins
Fortune cookie: “Disobedience is a demand for change.”
Plot:
Our episode starts in Iziz, again. I was almost afraid there’d be another rebel attack, but instead Ahsoka projects a hologram of King Dendup. He tells the citizens to support the rebels and take back Onderon. The citizens respond by destroying battle droids.
In the rebel stronghold in the highlands, Steela and Saw argue about keeping the battle in the outskirts of Iziz. Saw says they need to take the fighting to the center of the city, where more battle droids are, but Steela says no. King Dendup declares Steela to be the new commanding general, replacing Tandin. There’s more talking about strategy, and preparing for a Separatist attack. Then Steela plants a huge kiss on Lux, “just in case.” Um, awkward? (Also, how old are all these rebels supposed to be? I first assumed they were all teenagers, but now I’m not so sure.)
Kalani orders an attack on the “terrorists” in the mountains, and Saw begins his defense against the oncoming forces. Yaaaaaay battle scenes! (I’m so excited.) The rebels do okay until new Separatist gunships arrive, and then lots of them die.
Ahsoka sends a message to Obi-Wan, but he says the Council can’t send help. He tells Ahsoka to evacuate and help the survivors. Afterward, Anakin and Obi-Wan argue over how to help the rebels. Obi-Wan says the Jedi can’t help Onderon as long as King Rash is in charge, so Anakin says they’ll invite another party.
Enter Hondo Ohnaka! WOOT! Anakin recruits him to deliver arms to Onderon. Hondo shows up and delivers a lovely set of rocket launchers. Saw tests one of them out and takes out a gunship. But oh no, the Separatists are attacking headquarters in an attempt to find King Dendup! More battle scenes ensue.
Aaaaaand then a really horrible awful thing happens. Saw shoots down a gunship and it crashes near Steela and Dendup. Steela goes tumbling off a ledge and hangs on for dear life. Lux tries to save her but nearly falls off himself. Ahsoka catches him with the Force and brings him to safety. She does the same thing to Steela…but then Ahsoka’s shot in the shoulder. She loses her concentration and Steela goes tumbling overt the ledge. Damn, TCW. That’s really, really harsh.
Back in the palace, King Rash asks Dooku for more reinforcements, as the gunships have failed. Kalani gives his assessment that the war is lost. Dooku orders him to withdraw the troops and send them to Agamar. Then Kalani shoots Rash. Double harsh!
The rebels mourn Steela, and Ahsoka is wondering if everything was worth it. Lux tells her that it was, and that the selflessness of the Jedi has led him to believe that the Republic is the side to back in the war. Dendup has appointed him senator, and he’s going to bring Onderon into the Republic.
Analysis:
Pretty beast riders!
The CIS gunships reply to Kalani’s orders, “By your command.” Nice Battlestar Galactica reference!
While the battle senes tend to bore me, they are very pretty. And the music was excellent. Great job, Kevin Kiner.
As far as Obi-Wan and Anakin’s argument about whether to help Onderon–sorry Obi-Wan, but I’m kind of on Anakin’s side here. The Separatists already know that the Jedi are involved on the planet. Plus, the Jedi are fighting for the Republic, against the Separatists, so what’s the big deal if they help out on one more planet? It doesn’t make sense to me. But, I’m okay with how everything turned out because it got HONDO to be in this episode. He’s hilarious as usual, and again, should be in all the episodes. He’s at the top of my list of favorite TCW characters.
A mention of Agamar? Oyah! *headbob* And the rocket launchers were from Sienar. Love the Expanded Universe shout outs!
I’m still kind of lost as to the point of Kalani. His introduction made him out to be a lot more important than he turned out to be.
The music for Steela’s funeral was really beautiful. But wow, she’s got nearly as many people there as Padme did at her funeral. Good for Steela, I guess. She did well.
Ahsoka went through a lot in this arc, and all by herself, poor girl. I understand why she was left on her own, but I still believe the episodes would have been better had Anakin or Obi-Wan stayed on Onderon with her. After all, she’s still a padawan, and should be learning from other Jedi. Also, I’m really glad nothing came of the “love triangle” with Lux, especially if Lux and Steela were supposed to be older. That’s just creepy, considering Ahsoka is still a teenager. I prefer her having unrequited feelings for Lux, that make her question her position as a Jedi. It’s a nice counter with Anakin.
Overall, the Onderon arc was entertaining, but dragged in the middle for me. I think I’d like the four episodes a lot more if I watched them in one sitting. I’ll have to try that out one day.
