by Miller C. Lashbrook
My initial thought of this episode as I finished watching it was that it is the best episode since the premiere. The way that this episode builds tension, raises the stakes, and pushes the narrative forward was leaps and bounds above the previous episodes. It seems like episodes 2-4 were building character so that the plot could barrel forward in the final two episodes. I cannot say much more without getting into spoilers, so please watch this show, it is a fantastic piece of Star Wars media.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Oh my goodness! Using a lightsaber training session between Obi-Wan and Anakin as the narrative frame for this episode reminded me so much of the best episodes of the Clone Wars. The way the frame is used to reflect the Vader’s assault on the base was perfect. Anakin’s story throughout the Skywalker Saga is always about him struggling to learn the lesson in theory but needing to learn it in practice. He seemingly did not learn the lesson when Obi-Wan can get away, but then we see that he did by not underestimating Reeva. This plotline lets Obi-Wan still leave the master in their relationship, but shows that Anakin is a senior to Reeva; she is now the young, brash force user making mistakes.
The other supporting characters all get moments to shine in the assault on the base, with Leia working to fix the base doors (and struggling some as a 9-year-old would), Haja shows some leadership and responsibility supervising Leia, and of course, Tala has her noble sacrifice moment. I was really hoping that Tala would survive the show and go on to be in another Star Wars project like Andor because actress Indira Varma always just plays these charming determined women that I want to see more of, but alas, that was not meant to be.
My favorite moment of the episode hands down had to be Vader’s boss moment of holding the decoy ship down just with the force. At that moment, and in the scene that followed with Reeva, we saw once again the Vader that we saw in Rogue One and I loved it.
I am really excited about next week because I am not sure where we are going. We leave with the shot of Luke at home after Reeva finds the hologram of Bail Organa; it would seem that this is leading the audience to think that Vader or Reeva will go after Luke, but we also know, thanks to Jason Aaron’s run on the Star Wars comic, that Vader does not discover who Luke is until after A New Hope. Whatever happens, I hope that we get a final showdown between Reeva (there is no way she is dead, we didn’t see her die), Vader, and Obi-Wan.
5/5 Kyber Crystals 💎
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