What's the story:

The Jedi face a devastating new Separatist weapon"Belief is not a matter of choice, but of conviction."

An attack by a devastating new Separatist weapon leaves Jedi Master Plo Koon and his clone troopers struggling to survive until Anakin and Ahsoka can find them.
 

EPISODE REVIEW

After making episode one "The Yoda Show", episode two of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, "Rising Malevolence" features Anakin, Obi-Wan, Mace Windu, Senator Palpatine and General Grievous, but cunningly focusses on two relatively new characters, Anakin’s Padawan Ahsoka Tano and the respirator sporting Jedi Master Plo Koon.

When Jedi Master Plo Koon’s fleet is destroyed by Separatist General Grievous’ warship Malevolence, Anakin and Ahsoka Tano breakaway from the Republic star fleet to launch a private rescue mission, against orders of the Jedi Council.

While awaiting rescue, Plo Koon, Commander Wolffe and two clone troopers discover Grievous has sent Battle Droids into the wreckage of the Republican cruisers to eliminate any witnesses of the Malevolence’s formidable ion cannon. 

Supervising Director Dave Filoni takes the reins for this episode, and the thrilling sweep he brought to The Clone Wars theatrical movie is apparent here, from the Malevolence’s attack on Plo Koon’s fleet to the climactic race through the space cruiser wreckage as Anakin attempts to evade capture by Grievous, the Force is clearly strong with Filoni.

He even makes the wisecracking “Roger, roger”-ing Battle Droids, scourge of fanboy forums the Universe over, chilling as they casually crack open escape pods, killing the inhabitants.

The insectoid Malevolence is an impressive addition to the Star Wars fleet of cruisers, with the firing of its ion cannon a nice visual nod to Episode IV: A New Hope.

But, what is most encouraging about the first two episodes of Star Wars: The Clone Wars is its focus on character, the creators understanding the expanded scope of TV allows both plot and characters to breathe, and also that Star Wars endures because of that crucial human element.

Rob Daniel 

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