With excitement building over the coming release of a seventh season of The Clone Wars in 2019, we’re taking a look back at each episode of the first six seasons – doing so in chronological order. Today, we’re looking at the second episode chronologically, the sixteenth episode of season one, titled “The Hidden Enemy.”
SUMMARY:
Jedi Generals Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker are on Cristophsis, preparing for an attack on the Separatist battle droids when the droids surprise Kenobi’s forces and ambush them. Kenobi calls for the mission to be aborted, and Skywalker and his forces grapple to the other building to team up with Kenobi in repelling the droids and attempting to escape. They eventually do so as a gunship picks up the remaining forces, and one of the clones manages to steal the head of a Separatist tactical droid. Obi-Wan, Anakin, Cody, and Rex use this to try to figure out how the Separatists knew their plan, coming to realize that there must be an informant. Obi-Wan and Anakin embark on a secret undercover mission behind enemy lines for more information, while Cody and Rex attempt to figure out who the traitor is. They soon realize that it must be a clone, making matters even worse. Meanwhile, all communication is blocked and Obi-Wan and Anakin realize they are heading into a trap, seeing all the battle droids standing around watching them go. When they arrive, they find Asajj Ventress waiting for them, and the Jedi engage in a duel with the Sith apprentice.
Back at headquarters, Cody and Rex (with R2-D2’s help) trace the source of the traitorous communications to Slick’s barracks. They investigate and question Slick’s men, but in the process Slick lets it slip that the Jedi are gone. Cody questions how he knows this information, and Slick proceeds to punch clones as he escapes the room. Cody and Rex track Slick to the weapons depot, but soon discover that the traitor rigged a bomb, which blows up many gunships and transports. They realize that Slick isn’t trying to escape but rather destroy their forces. They track him back to the command center, where they realize that he is hiding in the ceiling. They trick him into revealing himself, and a fight ensues. After a lengthy hand-to-hand fight, Cody and Rex eventually get the upper hand and take Slick captive. Obi-Wan and Anakin soon arrive back at the base, having escaped from Ventress and the amassed Separatist army preparing to march on the city. They inform Cody and Rex of the coming assault.
REVIEW:
One of the real strengths of The Clone Wars is the immense characterization that it gave to the clones, and this episode certainly does that. Cody and Rex get a chance to take center-stage as they search for the traitor, while Slick’s motivations ask questions of the morality of the clone troopers. Slick says he just wanted freedom and that the clones are blind in serving the Jedi, which obviously isn’t correct but isn’t entirely false, either (since the clones were created to serve the Republic and fight for them). But beyond that, we see a clone who is obsessive about cleaning his weapon and another clone who illegally takes and collects battle droid fingers. The clones are given immense characterization, and that’s one of the shining features of the show.
This episode also gives us plenty of Obi-Wan and Anakin in combat, too, which is always nice to see. They fight Ventress, which in-universe is the first chronological fight between them in the show, but the dialogue makes it clear that they have apparently met before. Ventress is another terrific character, and the fight between her and the two Jedi is well-done and exciting.
Overall, this episode is one that contains plenty of action packed with plenty of drama and intrigue, too. Cody and Rex track down the traitor while Obi-Wan and Anakin go behind enemy lines to confront Ventress, all with the intent of trying to thwart the Separatist plans on Cristophsis.
My grade: 8.2/10
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