Full Series The Clone Wars 7.04-Unfinished Business-Discussion Thread (Spoilers Allowed)

Spoiler

Oof, I far prefer the original ending shot to the new one we got. While the scene with Rex and Echo was beautiful, and was a perfect sendoff for his character, the ending in the story reel was so eerie with how it played the imperial march. I miss that

Edit: To avoid confusion I am ONLY referring to the final shot. I feel everything else about the ending was infinitely better.

 

My enjoyment of this episode was greatly dampened by the fact that I've seen it before as well as lingering frustration about the last episode. At least the action was engaging and varied. I like the new ending where Echo joins the Bad Batch, though it sure is hard to get excited about it since the the Kashyyyk arc isn't seeing the light of day and we won't get to see how he works as a full-fledged member of the team. Knowing that there was another adventure planned for these characters in TCW that we're not getting is another reason I'm extremely frustrated with this final season. Not sure what grade I should give. I'll be a little easier on it than the last one, though.

As of now I'm not remotely convinced that this arc "sets Rex up for the finale" and is therefore essential the way "Son of Dathomir" would be for Maul. We already knew that he deeply cares for his brothers and would do anything for them, and this arc did nothing to shake Rex's faith in the Republic or even Anakin for that matter. Was Rex upset with his general for disbelieving Fives last season? Nothing came up in regards to the inhibitor chip issue either, and most egregiously, Echo was never given the chance to ask about what happened to his best friend. Now that would've been a perfect way to salvage the snoozefest that was On the Wings of Keeradaks and explicitly show Rex's shaken faith in the war and the tolls it plays on the clones. For the sake of fairness I'll reserve judgement on this matter until we see the full season, but I'm not going to hold back my anger if it disappoints.

 

Seems like I forgot to make a review and score for the previous individual episodes so I'll just do one for the arc as a whole

+I loved all of the new added scenes in there, they really helped change the arc from just a normal run of the mill Clone Arc into a very Rex focused arc.
+The added scene with Padme is probably one of my favorite TCW scenes. It added not only to Anakin and her's relationship but also Anakin and Rex friendship (It also gave Anakin more of a reason to tag along on the mission than he originally had in the story reels)
+All the character work on Rex, this arc alone did so much for his character. You can really feel that weariness, he's tired of the war and losing his brothers even tho he tries to keep up appearances. Atleast that's how I see it, too see such a geniune friendship between him and Anakin was so nice as well.
+The improvements in animation is so impressive, the lightning and everything. This might just be the most visually stunning animated show I've ever seen.
+The directing in these episodes has been so good, better than a lot of movies I've seen.
+The action was quite simply spectacular, I like how the scenes utilized every character's individual skills.
+I liked all of the new designs especially on Skako Minor like the new battle droids. Echo and the Bad Batches armors also look so badass.
+The new character models are just stunning.
+The Bad Batch might be some of my favorite clone characters, I really enjoyed them and their different personalities.
+Anakin killing Trench was actually kinda unsettling, his rage and then his casual nature after having just impaled some speaks so much of how close he is to ROTS and his inevitable fall.
+That ending got me so emotional, it was nice of Rex to let Echo go but I could see how much it hurt him to let him go.
-My one negative is that I think that they made Crosshair a bit too much of a douchebag in this compared to the story reels.

All in all this was an amazing arc and start of the final season. I give it a 9/10

 

This arc is low key brilliance. I'm not just saying that because I'm in denial or because I'm delirious from insomnia. Initially, I was disappointed before I even watched the episode because I knew when I saw the screencap that gave away the end of the episode and recognized it from the Storyreel. The ending wasn't going to change and they weren't going to pick up where the Order 66 arc left off and deal with the brain chip which was the one thing I asked it to do. I even rewatched the Order 66 arc just in case something wasn't ingrained enough in my head for me to remember it crossing the finish line.

The reality is I watched the wrong arc and should have rewatched Umbara before finishing this arc. Fives far as we know died in vain and Echo doesn't even care about where he is. What this arc actually did was deconstructed the Clone Trooper brotherhood thing. It ties brilliantly into "The Deserter" in an almost sinister way that humanizes the Clones in a different way than before. They are not just a herd mentality where they are by default close to all their brothers. This goes all the way back to Cut's explanation of him deciding to run when everyone he cared about, his brothers, his own Domino squad was gone. He didn't care about anyone else.

In spite of how much Rex loves and puts his soul into protecting his brothers. He pulled out all of the stops to rescue Echo as soon as he realized he was alive. He told Echo things would go back to how they were. From Echo's point of view he goes back to being a Clone Trooper, an elite Trooper just like he was as an ARC Trooper. He just doesn't go back to Rex. Echo isn't his "son" anymore. Echo is abused and traumatized. That's kind of Rex's fault. Rex was the one Rex who gave Fives a big damn speech about the price of war. Rex lets Echo make his own decisions just as he decides to stay in the GAR. Echo goes off with the cool kids, The Bad Batch who didn't give a **** about him half a day ago. They wrote Echo off as a damn traitor, too his face.

We got a clue when Rex was looking at the picture in "Bad Batch" which of the two "sons" was closer to him. Rex had his arm on Fives' shoulder. Fives was the one who idolized Anakin and Rex. It's rather heartbreaking to see how desperately sad Rex looks when he's walking away from Echo with his back turned. Anakin, Cody, and we'll throw in Obi-wan had already walked away. Rex is alone, it doesn't really matter what he thinks about the war, the GAR. Rex is weary, worn down, and broken. His beliefs are working against him. The price is too high for a war Rex doesn't get beyond the evil Tambor reconfirms exists and he can't see a future without it. Rex isn't moving on and things can't stay the same. I can see where Rex is going to be glad to see Ahsoka on the flipside and that's not going to go back to how it was either. The Bad Batch themselves represent a tight-knit squad which is something Rex doesn't have anymore. That's why he admired them in the end and enjoyed working with them even though Hunter and Crosshair were dicks to him.

Yeah, there is no getting around this episode doesn't explain what's happened with Rex's brain chip but really this arc has changed the way I interpret Rex telling Kanan, "We all had a choice". to refer to the choice of what to believe rather than a choice to remove the chip because it will all come down to whether Rex believes Fives or not. It's not about whether Rex really understood what the brain chip was for until he had hindsight. He will obviously remove it and I think he'll do it because he believed in Fives. There was no one; not Cody, Echo, or Anakin he was closer to than Fives. Personally I think He and Kix have already done it in Fives' honor. We'll see if SoM lends any more insight.

This episode has some great action pieces. Getting onboard Trench's ship was a fun callback to "Grievous Intrigue". Echo's personality seems to have really changed not surprisingly. He's way more confident, just a pinch nutty, and has a sense of humor about it all. It's actually fairly dark to watch a Clone Trooper embrace the role of being a human astromech. They did a decent job trying to build up the possibility Echo could be a traitor though it was bloody obvious he wasn't. I wondered how the "algorithm" would go missing without Trench noticing. I mean in the real world if a server goes down people know pretty quickly. Youtube the old NSFW video "The Website is Down" sometime. It was good to get one last epic clones vs battle droids battle complete with Jedi action. They might have gone a bit heavyhanded with Anakin though Matt Lanter's line delivery "I don't have any such weaknesses" or something like that was kick ass. It was also cool to see Wrecker and Crosshair show off their talents.

I'm satisfied with this arc and TCW's return. I had to remind myself The Clone Wars does not spoonfeed me all the answers and show me everything that happens. Sometimes seemingly important things like Barriss's entire character arc happen offscreen. However, TCW leaves plenty to breadcrumbs to follow and I always enjoy interpreting how things fit together. I don't know where the Bad Batch arc will sit for me, its probably just barely going to be edged out of my top five. I think this episode will be an eight because it feels like Trench got intellect throttled and it isn't meaty as I would have liked. I'll rewatch and see if it grows on me like that last one. It is much better than the last one anyway.

I would still love to see the Bad Batch and Echo return for the finale.

 

So in the end, Rex loses Echo again, not to death but to the inescapable tide of change as Echo, no longer the person he was, chooses to leave the 501st and join the Bad Batch. What a change from the old Echo - the clone who never adapts.

And unlike a certain other character, Rex is selfless and accepting of this even as it breaks his heart and weighs on him how he just can't restore the past.

Right now, the arc as a whole still feels a bit Anakin-heavy. Hopefully (aside from a certain reunion we all know is coming) this is the last time we spend time on him. Yes, he's the ROTS Anakin now. We knew that. His story's been told. And I hope Rex's journey here does pay off in Siege and doesn't just serve as another contrast to Anakin. (Though I'll probably be way too distracted with Ahsoka's story on the first watch. I'm blasted impatient now to get back to her story. It's been way too long.)

BTW, Mace's overture to the battledroids smacks of Jedi arrogance. "See, we're Good - you're Bad - submit and be reprogrammed - and if not, us keepers of peace will cut you into itty bitty bits just as I've already done to thousands of you."

8/10.

 

It's 10/10 for me. Best of the arc imo. That initial shot of the assembly complex and the ensuing bombing run was beautiful to watch. Almost forget I'm watching animation. Most importantly, I'm satisfied with how this sets up Rex for SoM.

 

So in the end of this arc, did Rex learn to let go when the time came?

 

I thought it was very striking that Mace didn't refer to himself as "Jedi Master Mace Windu" but as "General Mace Windu of the Jedi Order" The one who professed the Jedi to not be soldiers now identifies as one.

 

I haven't been a fan of pretty much every single change to these episodes, with two exceptions. This new ending, was second of those two, it was utterly incredible, and is noticeably different in tone to the rest of the other changes. I guess Filoni and the crew can write new material without it sounding like it came out of Rebels!

 

I certainly see the parallels between Anakin and Rex. I just don't think they are a big part of the story in this arc. They are too different. Yes, it is similar to Ahsoka's Fugitive arc which broke both Ahsoka and Anakin. There are a few differences, Rex has two proteges he was close to. One went nuts was framed then died. The other Rex went all out to rescue and then left. We could potentially add Ahsoka to this whom Rex big brothered in Season 1 as a third close friend Rex has gone through losing but we've never gotten any of Rex's thoughts on that. I think it hurt him.

Another difference is Rex was already broken before "Bad Batch" and Echo compounds his problems. Rex has been at his lowest point for a while, before heading into this arc and the dial got turned up a few notches for SoM/ the finale. Comparing to Anakin, Rex never had a problem letting his brothers go, he said to Fives that was the price of war and if needed they have to lay down their lives. But Rex isn't the same man he was on Umbara. That change started with Krell who opened his eyes to the fact the war Rex is fighting in is pretty gray and he doesn't really understand any of it other than the fact he and his brothers were born to fight in it. If they don't fight they have no purpose and evil will take over anyways. That just happens to be what clones are probably educated to know and Rex chose to believe. Over time the losses have added up and as Cody said, "It's tough to be the survivor." because Rex is now alone. Rex used to be stoic and always have his emotions in check, unlike Anakin.

Really Rex has always had it pretty good which is why he found meaning in being a trooper. Mace being in this episode and showing enough trust to go with the Clones' plans twice including Echo's is actually a really nice touch. I'm going to assume Mace blamed Anakin for Rex not telling him where Anakin was in the Deception Arc. Mace has actually been shown to be like Anakin in that he treats his clones with respect and treats them well. He's following Yoda's advice to continue trusting. Obi-wan often seems quicker to abandon clones than Mace. Still, Anakin really was "among the greatest of the Jedi" to a clone. It's because of him, Rex could go and rescue Echo.

This arc really shows how Anakin treats him as an equal and values Rex's friendship. But Anakin isn't a brother and is drifting away. Rex needs more than that. I think Fives' death broke Rex and he craves to have someone like that in his life. That's why when Rex heard Echo's voice, he wanted to rescue him so badly. Once Rex has Echo back, he knows Echo is no replacement for Fives. He knows his brother has been through a lot and has learned to make his own decision. Rex can't say he wants the best for him because there is no "best" in the war. Rex letting Echo go after all that is really emotional, you just feel the pain he's carrying. Not only does Echo decide not to stay with him but Rex knows he may never see him alive again, just like when he said goodbye to Fives on Kamino with no idea it would be the last time.

This great framework for Rex to have to endure the sadistic choice.

It was interesting how Mace and Obi-wan fought together throughout the episode while Anakin was hanging out with the clones instead. Obi-wan all the way back in "Grievous Intrigue" actually says something similar to Grievous when he lectures the droid army leader for his use of an army with "No loyalty, no spirit just programming. What has you to show for it. What have you to gain?" Grievous's reply is pretty badass actually, he said, "A future without Jedi." The Jedi are very arrogant and seemingly not budging on them being the good guys.

I think Mace introduced himself as a general because he sees the battle droids as only machines of war. They don't get the "Jedi Master" introduction because they aren't anything he'd actually walk up to and shake the hand of. He offers them reprogramming. Much as I hate it, the D-Squad arc was season 5's clone and this one originally provided a little follow up to it with a future arc picking up from there. Although it just carries over from AOTC; one of TCW's weaknesses has always been showing the Republic good and the Separatist bad. TCW only ever made an attempt to give depth to the Separatists in "Heroes on Both Sides" and later tosses that all out the window in the Onderon arc. That's what they ended up going with here.

 

The new ending was great, but I am very eager to start a brand new arc we haven't seen before.

 

Rex should have joined Bad Batch simply because he is too perfect for being a mere clone, that's not normal.

The episode was average, Mace's proposal to the droids was fun. Anakin's dark side signs was expected, but it was a nice put anyway. And Rex's ending with Echo was great.

 

That line about the bomb possibly wiping out the entire planet, that could be what happened to Anaxes before it's Rebels appearance. Maybe someone reactivated the bomb for some reason.

 

I had actually thought that given Anaxes looks shattered in Rebels.

 

Spoiler

This one was really really good! Probably my second favorite of the season so far. Loved seeing Mace and Obi-Wan working together and Anakin's dark side coming out. I don't know why but I was actually quite shocked when he killed Admiral Trench. It was just brutal. And his line before he killed him "I don't have such weaknesses" or something like that was very Vader like. Perfect send off for Echo too. I know the Bad Batch were originally going to return but I'm satisfied with this conclusion for them. 9/10!

Now the long wait for next week and the return of Ahsoka!

 

What a brilliant ending, the two major new scenes in this arc, Anakin and Padme and Rex/Echo really stand out.

This was my favorite episode from the reels in this arc and I think it'll stay that way, even though I loved Episode 2.

The ending is bittersweet though, knowing Echo didn't at least ask about Fives and knowing we probably won't see the Bad Batch and now Echo, again anytime soon.

With the popularity of this show though, I won't lose all hope though..

 

Great episode! Especially with how ruthless Anakin is becoming. His cheeky farewell to Trench was particularly vicious.
Wrecker was hilarious in this episode and I really like Echo joining the Bad Batch. I didn't ever watch the story reels, so I'm curious of the original ending.
Looking forward to rejoining Ahsoka!

 

I expected how much of a dick Crosshair was in the first two eps to pay off in the end, but they just kind of dropped that thread and faded him into the background. In the end Tech and Wrecker got a lot more shine than Hunter and Crosshair, although Crosshair at least got to show off that mirror trick.

I liked pretty much everything else about the ep though.

Trench's stabbing was more Disney than previous lightsaber stabbings, but I did like how they gave him some cartoony insectoid/arachnid death throes, and seeing Anakin be so ruthless with him was gold.

And as someone who is still traumatized by the depressing, hopeless brutality of the Fives arc, I found the ending of Echo's to be almost perfect.

 

Awesome episode, really kinda sad that we wont follow the bad batch anymore, they're clearly different compared to other commando squads. Delta squad are the benchmark of what a Republic Commando squad should be, but these guys are some of the best clones I've seen.. Hopefully books or comics for them down the line.

Echo and Rex are amazing together
Anakin was awesome with the dark side tease this episode!
Clone wars is just awesome and shows off how good Star Wars Story-telling actual is.

 

I thought Crosshair's dot things he stuck on the walls (and on one unfortunate droid) then shot with his sniper rifle were badass. He was my least favorite of the Bad Batch and I still thought it was cool to see a Clone do something so outrageously overpowered. Wrecker did stuff too but the power to just punch things harder is so overdone.

 

I thought it was a pretty good episode, at least if you ignore that the Bad Batch story as seemed to drag on for longer than it should. I didn't really expect Echo to be compromised at all; I guess the loyalty thing was the episode's specific theme overall so they left some doubt. I do have a few questions though. How come Trench didn't have a life scan on the shuttle? That little speech by Windu threatening the droids was kind of corny. It's not as if they were going to change their minds. The best scene was when Anakin made it to the bridge and threatened Trench. It was nice seeing him really scared for a change. You almost felt sorry for him.

 

Interesting ending with Anakin going like 90% Vader (a good payoff from him choking Barris in the S5 finale), and I honestly hope we see the Bad Batch again when the Order 66 flip happens and they'd be some really great antagonists (if they just walk away it'd be less satsifying). but winner of the episode is Mace's chat with the Battle Droids, it definitely recalls the Clone Wars 2D shorts when he says that he has personally decimated battle droids on his own. Oh and does Obi-Wan's character have white at the temples now or was that in there before?

 

It was an underwhelming ending to a decent arc really, no one important died from the republic, no major cost to winning the Battle of Anaxes.

Although I’m happy this episode showed of Trench’s skills with weapons, his death was pretty bland and the series never delivered on the potential of the character that was set up in Cat and Mouse with him being very skilled and mysteriously being able to avoid death.