Full Series The Clone Wars: Episode 407: Darkness On Umbara Discussion Thread

Im guessing Krell is lying and is in fact working for the Seps.

Anyway, great episode and Krell stole the show.

 

Was the creature that was attacking the clones a Sarlacc?

 

I'll have some fun with this later.

 

Please do, and I forgot to mention about that kraken/Watcher in the Water cliche in the episode as well.

 

Maybe he just said CT to put Rex down.

It's obvious the guy has no respect for clones, and only sees them as clones.

 

I really wanted Rex to say, "it's CC-7567, sir, not CT." Would've been great. Yet, it wouldn't make sense if he does something similiar in the future episodes without correcting Krell in the beginning. It would seem the writers were like "Oh, we made a mistake.. Oh well, let's make Rex correct Krell by saying his name is..."

Also keep in mind this wasn't the first time TCW contradicted its own sources regarding clone designation numbers. Ponds, Hevy, Echo, and Droidbait were the ones that had their designation butchered. Ponds had it several times. However, Rex's designation should be well known. He had it since the beginning, in all sources, including the databank. It's amazing how someone could mess this up. I mean if you didn't know, research? It's not that difficult, especially for a character like Rex.

 

Maybe Krell was just insulting him by calling him a 'clone trooper' instead of a 'clone captain'.

 

I think so. Or some variation. Or a homage to that Star Wars franchise.

Oh wait.

 

As far as I'm concerned, the designation "CC" doesn't always mean clone commander or captain, even though many clones' numbers reflect their rank. Many clone troopers, either an officer or an enlisted rank, had a "CT" title as well.

What's confusing about this is that Rex didn't defend his own name as Krell kept insulting him. I always thought, and I am pretty much staying by this, that Krell was "putting Rex in his place" by shouting his clone designation number. Later when Rex manned up and argued against Krell, he pretty much found some respect toward Rex and began to call him "Captain Rex," not his number.

 

Here are my thoughts:

First off, Krell was a great character. So often TCW makes the good guys super good, without flaws. It's nice to see a hero who has a bit of a dark side. I also loved the clones' conversations with him. Rex's confrontation with him near the end was the first time since Voyage of Temptation that dialogue from this show impressed me. Krell pulling a lightsaber on Fives caught be by surprise and was definitely the highlight for me. On the subject of Rex, it was interesting that he's getting tired of the war. Not an unwanted development but it was certainly very sudden. I hope that will be explained later in the arc because even as recently as Water War he looked perfectly happy.

The action got a little repetitive at times, the Umbaran ambushes got a little tiring, but the clones were awsome! Fives blowing the Sarlaac was truly ARC-level awsomeness.

There were a few diappointments but nothing too major. I would have liked to see more of the space battle but from the previews it looks like we'll get plenty of them later in the arc. I also wish we had gotten the background info on the invasion that was on the OS. Fives was great action-wise but it would have been nice for him to get the characterization he needs. The only other thing I can think of that irked me was the sound of Krell's lightsabers. The Darksaber's sound was understandable given it was ancient and Savage's lower-pitched sound was fitting for his character, but I feel like Krell's saber sounds were unneccesary. At some point these unique aspects will get mundane, like R2's rockets and Dooku's Force lightning.

Overall, the action wasn't as well-done as it was in LaPR but that was made up for by the amazing dialogue. Definitely the best episode of the season!

 

IT'S ABOUT TIME TCW GOT A NOT-A-TOTAL-FAIL EPISODE!!!!!!! I'm happy.

Pros:
-The clone communication was excellent. Dee really is the best voiceactor on this show and he brings difference among the clones really well.
-There was alot of ephasis on minor clones. I love that characterization.
-Fives got alot of badass moments. I think by now, it is clear what kind of clone Fives really is. He is hardass clone with heroics. He was like Hevy but less of jerk and has a diligent nature to fighting. Fives is my fav. clone, no doubt.
-Hardcase received the attention that he needed back in "The Deserter". It was great.
-Krell is an ***hole. I love it.
-Awesome story.
-Umbarans are cool enemies. Their tech is sweet.
-Epic action
-No droids. No silly enemies.
-The story was like Vietnam. Pretty awesome.

Cons:
-Jesse left with Anakin but then was shown with the 501st later in the episode. Continuity error.
-The battle in the beginning lacked music. It seemed so bizarre hearing all the sounds but not a hint of background score.....

With all this said, I thought this episode was fantastic and there were no notable cliches!
The Jesse thing isn't a big deal but the music was quite a blow. So my score is....
9/10 FANTASTIC! I'll be rewatching this one!

How many of these will I use?!

 

Great episode, everything I was hoping for, clones FTW! The action was incredible, I had my Z2300s on full blast and the sound about blew me to the back of the room. The surprise explosions when the clones were sneaking up the road made me jump.

The scene running in was fantastic, fun, chaotic, and beautiful. The Umbarans' are actually quite scary as opponents, they seem much more threatening than the battledroids and man they are some creative and brutal tacticians. I get the impression the Republic could indeed lose although its not likely in the end. Good job. Lots of cool sequences like the Sarlacc Pit, the big glowing scorpion thing set loose in the camp, the bomb run sequence, shooting at the animal, getting caught head on, and drawing the Umbaran's out of the forest. Wow! Nice cliff hanger ending.

I also got to give credit to the wonderful character interplay in this episode with great dialogue to boot, best since "The Deserter". I loved the contrast they showed by giving Anakin and Rex and even Anakin and Fives a few buddy buddy moments before throwing in Krell who took over with a very antagonistic dynamic between him and Rex. Rex is awesome in this episode, pretty baddass he stood up to Krell after he drew a lightsaber on Fives (An ARC Trooper). Incidently I thought Krell was using CT to get under Rex's skin, he seemed surprised the first time Krell used it and things rolled from there. I tell you who really had a breakout performance here was Hardcase IMO. Fives had a great as well showing off some of his 1337 ARC Trooper skills. Tup is cool to, pretty funny and when a fire was lid under him he showed some teeth. Loved the interplay between all of them.

My main complaints are, that little glare Krell made toward Anakin made it obvious something is up. I also thought Krell's arrival was a little to random. Also at times the dialogue was hard to hear and keep up with. But still great. Not really a complaint but Cody didn't even get a word, boo. And where was Boil? You can't just do that to me man.

Favorite Scene: Fives brutally owning the Umbaran in hand to hand and then with a shot to the head.

 

Knowing TCW and what they did in the past, I can't buy Krell was only doing that on purpose. I just can't buy that. It was their usual contradictory writing for the most part. I could quote what I said above too. If he really wanted to bother Rex, he could've just stick to calling him "clone." It's more effective than incorrectly calling him CT-7567. For all we know, he could've called him Bob instead of Rex.

 

Now that's what I'm talking' 'bout! Great episode!

 

Maybe I am reading to far into a mistake. But I got that Krell was doing that to Rex on purpose and although surprised at first Rex quickly figured that out and was above that challenge. Atleast until Fives of all clones had a lightsaber pulled on him (Fives reaction was kinda heartbreaking IMO) and getting offended by Krell being so happy to throw 'mens' lives away.

 

I'll probably discuss about Krell wanting to kill the cardboard stand-in later ( ), but I still believe Rex's CT number was just a goof on the writer's part. They got half the designation right, but the CC part wrong. That pretty much tells me they wanted to deliberately change his designation number, despite the majority, if not all, sources that feature Rex have CC-7567. It would make more sense to see Krell calling Rex "clone," as he did in that one scene after he entered the episode. Then later on after Rex argued against Krell, Krell would show some respect toward him by calling him what he prefers to be called -- Captain Rex, or Rex.

Basically I know TCW isn't supportive of established canon, and yeah it shows here, but not all clone commanders or captains have a "CC" designation. Many have CT, or such.

 

Except that when Krell finally granted Rex the decency of his name he said - "Opinion noted and dismissed." - And not in a nice Optimus Prime way. I think Krell was mocking Rex when he answered Rex's speech.

 

Sorry I edited my post above when you quoted me, here's my change: "That pretty much tells me they wanted to deliberately change his designation number, despite the majority, if not all, sources that feature Rex have CC-7567."

If he was just incorrectly stating his name on purpose, he would be just a total **** and immature, which is an odd interesting characterization for Krell, yet Rex is even more strange for not standing up and correct the Jedi for incorrectly calling him CT, instead of CC. The incorrect naming happened three times I think in the episode.

That's why I prefer my concept because it sort of respects Rex and his authority.

 

I'm going to hold judgement on Krell for the time being. Watching him was confusing because my impression has always been that a Jedi is supposed to aspire to being pretty much the exact opposite of what Krell was. I mean, threatening to kill a subordinate for questioning him? That's what a Sith does. BUT...let me stress, that was first impressions and we have three more episodes to go, so I think it highly likely that we'll get more insight into who he is and why he's acting the way he is. There's got to be more going on here than meets the eye. I'll wait till the end to see what develops.

the episode, on the whole, I think, was very excellent, and a great way to start off this arc. As with every episode this season, it was a technical marvel, full of eye candy and wonderful visual effects. I don't think anybody just starting out on the first season had any clue it could ever look this good.

Also, finally more character development for Rex, and a whole lot of it. I've been waiting for more of that since "The Deserter". Like many others I'm desperate to know how, and in which direction, he will grow as a character and when push comes to shove, if he'll obey order 66 or not, though that speculation is for another thread. Still, i suspect this arc will give people in that thread plenty to talk about.

Very much looking forward to next week.

 

I also find it interesting the cardboard cutout Fives sounded more hurt than anything when the saber was drawn on him. Like he was having the thought - "How can a Jedi do this to me?"

And BTW, can I come out and make a prediction? I think we got some major foreshadowing here to Krell's inevitable end. Rex gave a speech about duty and resolve to protect his men that sounded alot like Cut's speech about his duty and resolve to protect his family. Although Cut said he didn't want to kill again he ended up killing a handful of Commando droids to protect his family. When push comes to shove I wonder what Rex will do for his men. <_<;

Except there seems to be something going on with Krell. The way he looked an Anakin when he left had my eyebow raised.

 

I have no sympathy for Fives whatsoever still. In a lighter note, in the beginning when Fives was talking with Rex and how "it was just like old times," I can see Rex, muffled under his helmet, telling Fives "Oh, shut up, you cardboard stand-in."

Besides my issues with some of the animation, rough writing, and Rex's incorrect naming (I hope we don't see that again), I am actually looking forward to next week. Bad start for me for the most part, but what's keeping me interested is Krell and Rex's characterization (not the issues regarding his naming). I came to respect Rex a lot more after The Deserter, and this arc might do the character more favors.

 

Regardless, I feel there is some special significance to the fact it happened to Fives other than the fact the audience is fond of Domino Squad. You would think had Krell drawn his saber on Jesse or Hardcase, clones that saved his life after he was sniped Rex would of had a similar reaction.

 

I hope Krell cuts some cardboard next week then

 

That would probably be a good way to start a fire. Krell is interesting and in the end I hope he get a brutal death.

 

Hopefully next week we see something with Jesse, Kix, and Hardcase, or assuming Kix is with them. Let's see if the writers remember what these three clones did for Rex, like you said, Seerow.