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 seventh episode chronologically, the third episode of season one, titled “Shadow of Malevolence.”
SUMMARY:
The Malevolence continues to destroy Republic ships, and General Grievous receives word from Count Dooku of a new target: a Republic medical center. Aware of this threat, Admiral Yularen contacts Nala Se aboard the medical center, but she fears they won’t be able to evacuate in time. Obi-Wan Kenobi heads to aid the evacuation, but also fears he will be too late. Anakin Skywalker decides to come up with a daring plan to beat Grievous there, taking Y-Wing bombers. He and Ahsoka fly in one bomber, while clone troopers take other bombers and Plo Koon pilots his Jedi Starfighter as escort. But as they’re traveling, Skywalker explains how they can save so much time: by taking an old smuggler’s route, the Balmorra Run. Plo Koon immediately says they must turn around, but it’s too late: the Balmorra Run is the nesting ground of the giant Neebray creatures, which results in the bombers having to maneuver around them as they try to survive.
Before long they manage to come out of the nebula, and Grievous and the Malevolence soon arrive at the medical center (having already been warned of Skywalker’s plan by Count Dooku, with a report from Darth Sidious). The Malevolence fires upon the transports fleeing the station, and then Skywalker and his bombers attack. They battle droid fighters as they try to make their way toward the Malevolence to take out the bridge, but Grievous orders the Malevolence to fire upon the battle – including his own fighters. Skywalker orders his men to fly around the ion blast, but loses two ships and leaves four more stuck in the ion blast. At the urging of both Ahsoka and Plo Koon, Skywalker orders his men to go for the canon instead of the bridge. While the canon is re-charging (with Grievous targeting the medical center this time), the ships damage the canon so that when it is fired, it malfunctions. This renders the Malevolence badly damaged, with the weapons and hyperdrive disabled. Obi-Wan soon arrives to continue the fight while Skywalker’s men head to the medical station.
REVIEW:
This episode revolved pretty much entirely around ships, and it’s great to see Y-Wings show up. The journey to the medical station wasn’t overly exciting, but the battle against the massive Separatist ship was well-done.
It shows Anakin’s growth as a General, as he has to look out for his men and do what is best for the whole group. He obviously is upset about the men he lost in the battle, but he also listened to advice from Ahsoka and Plo Koon about a better target that would set the men up in the best position for success.
This is part two of a three-part arc regarding the Malevolence, and it’s a fine contribution that features some cool bombing runs.
My grade: 7.4/10
Star Wars Thoughts 