FILMEDGE REVIEWS THE CLONE WARS EPISODE 3.01 'CLONE CADETS'
— AIRDATE 9.17.10
The war wears on, and the Republic is pushed to its breaking point. Support for the Jedi Knights and their noble cause comes in the form of valiant clone troopers — steadfast defenders of peace and justice, even as the Jedi falter and the might Republic begins to crumble. Joined by familiar faces and confronted with deadly new threats, these everyman heroes lead the charge into a transformative new season of Clone Wars adventures — where alliances will be tested, truths will be questioned and galaxy-changing secrets will be uncovered to shake the very foundations of the STAR WARS universe. The next chapter of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS begins with a must-see two-part premiere, airing at 9:00pm ET/PT Friday, September 17th on Cartoon Network. Episode 3.01 Clone Cadets is a prequel to the Season One episode Rookies.
Brothers in arms are brothers for life.
Clone troopers unite as war rages across the galaxy! The Republic's clone army strives for victory against the evil forces of the Separatists. Bravery, valor, unity: the lifeblood of victory on the battlefield and in space. It all begins on the planet Kamino where Jedi General Shaak Ti oversees the training of clones with the help of contracted bounty hunters. Bred to be perfect soldiers, these cadets must first be subjected to intense physical and mental training before heading off to war...
SYNOPSIS: On the Academy training course, five Clone Cadets who form Domino unit — Hevy, Cutup, Droidbait, Fives and Echo — struggle to pass their simulated battle test against droid targets to reach the Citadel tower and win the war game, a blaster-wielding version of capture the flag. Their previous failures and current difficulty stems from their utter lack of unity and teamwork: always arguing with each other, disobeying orders or making jokes, such lack of focus and discipline proves a far more dangerous obstacle than stun-gunning droid opponents.
High above the Citadel course on an observation platform, Jedi Master Shaak Ti and two allied bounty hunters, the stern Siniteen drill sergeant Bric and the encouraging Arconian mentor El-Les, confer on Domino squad's repeated failings. Bric insists the squad be washed out of military training and relegated to maintenance duty, while El-Les urges more patience to see if the hapless unit can finally overcome this difficult course. Shaak Ti reluctantly agrees with Bric: as Domino squad fails to unite with each other in training, they can never fight together as soldiers. She ends the exercise, summoning Clone 99 to clean the droid debris off the course and Bric sarcastically suggests he haul away the mess that is Domino squad too.
On the course grid below, Clone 99 stands out from his brothers as a genetic aberration, one of a batch of Kamino-bred clones who lack the physical uniformity designed into the clone army prospects. But his thin limbs, hunched posture and aged face only disguise the proud heart and will of a warrior inside his misshapen form. He wishes the squad better luck on their next test. Later in the hive-like clone barracks, 99 encourages the squad that most clones pass training and they shouldn't be discouraged.
Hevy, the squad leader who alone assumes the burden to keep his men in line, insists they need to think and act like ARC Troopers — the elite units of clone soldiers — if they're ever going to pass muster in the Academy. Echo earns his nickname for constantly repeating orders and his inability to adapt to situations beyond them. Fives urges the squadmates to bond as brothers instead of regarding each other as interchangeable numbered clones. Droidbait gained his moniker for his tactical failures caused by distracting arguments with Cutup, the undisciplined joker of the bunch. Pointing the finger of blame at each other only underscores the reasons for their failure in training. Bric breaks up yet another argument and warns the squad they're a waste of his training time and disappointing both he and the Jedi trusting them to be worthy soldiers. Saddened by Bric's negative bias against Domino, 99 retorts that Bric isn't giving them enough credit for the progress they've made.
Lama Su explains to Shaak Ti that since Jango Fett's death, the Kaminoans have attempted to stretch his genetic samples to continue producing clone template soldiers, but the results are showing deficient qualities with 99 being an example. The Kaminoan suggests searching the galaxy for a new genetic template, but until then some clone batches will be born failures. Shaak Ti is shocked by the notion that some of the clones — specifically Domino squad —as expendable mistakes. As Lama Su reluctantly points out, that decision is Shaak Ti's to make as training General.
The clone cadets now face their final test, inspired by visiting elite ARC troopers who fires up the cadets with a challenge to impress the best. Bravo company, a skilled and cohesive squad, takes the test first with precision teamwork and captures the Citadel standard. ARC troop leader is impressed, but El-Les and Bric exhibit much less confidence in Domino's projected performance next. The test program restarts and Domino squad bursts into action. Their tactics are judged unorthodox by ARC leader but El-Les notes Domino has progressed farther than before. Droidbait is stunned by a droid blast and injured, but with Hevy breaking ranks toward the tower, Fives orders they leave Droidbait behind to continue the charge. Suddenly the droid opponents all deactivate in place, the test ended. ARC leader berates Domino squad for breaking ranks, disobeying orders and, worst of all, leaving a man behind. El-Les informs Domino squad that such lack of unity and respect for their fellow soldier results in their automatic failure.
El-Les requests that Shaak Ti allow Domino squad to repeat the final test, insisting that their failure is also shared by their mentors. Bric disagrees, questioning why El-Les cares so much about the Domino cadets success. El-Les counters, asking why Bric cares so little for their training. Bric reveals his distaste for training these inferior clones and that he's only in it for the credits the Jedi pay him. In fact, he's already recommended Domino squad be reassigned to maintenance duties, just like 99 who overhears their debate. Hevy and Fives meet with Shaak Ti to request transfer to Bravo squad, but she counsels them to resolve their failures as a group on the test course again.
Bric meets with Cutup, pushing the cadet to inspire the 'class clown' into taking his duty seriously and fighting like a soldier. Cutup refuses to strike back at his mentor, but takes away his new nickname with a sense of pride and belonging to his unit now. Bric insists Domino squad will fail their final test one way or the other. During the night, Hevy decides to quit the Academy but 99 stops him, urging him not to throw away the chance to forge a bond with this squad — a chance 99 wanted so much but never had. Hevy's always the one carrying the full burden of his squad and it's failures, so 99 suggests he share that burden with his brothers and rely on them to help carry the load. Hevy dismisses the idea of clone brotherhood, insisting they're all just numbers. 99 assures Hevy that, to him, he'll always have a name.
In the morning the squad assembles with no sign of Hevy, worried they will fail again without him. Hevy arrives, brimming with confidence and assuring his brothers they will pass the test today! Domino squad rises up to the Citadel course once again, immediately charging into the droid fire with organized tactics. Watching from above, El-Les notices improvement in the squad but Bric remains dubious of their good start. Domino squad fights on, adapting to surprise droid attacks and charging the Citadel tower. At the tower base, they realize they have no cables to ascend the gun-bristling tower to complete the test. Bric reveals he took their cables, insisting that the best must succeed against all odds and obstacles. Shaak Ti doesn't approve of Bric's bias but admits that the Separatist Army will also fight with unfair advantages in real battle, and Domino squad must face that reality. Hevy lets the rotary cannon blaze away, disabling the columns of tower guns which the squad uses as a makeshift ladder to ascend to the top, forming a chain to help each other to the summit where they raise the glowing standard in triumph!
El-Les and Bric present Domino squad their the graduation medals, having proved themselves top ARC Trooper prospects once they get some combat experience. Hevy thanks 99 for keeping his faith in the squad, and 99 congratulates Hevy on his leadership. But Hevy proudly insists he was no leader — Domino squad succeeded as a team! He also is proud to claim 99 as his brother too, giving 99 his honor medal to keep until they meet again because he's earned it. General Shaak Ti welcomes the newest Clone Troopers, including Domino squad, into service and wishes the Force will be with them all.
REVIEW: Season Three directly picks up on the issues of clone brotherhood and individuality which Boba Fett raised in his three-part appearance to end last season, only this time the clones star in the story. On the surface Clone Cadets dramatizes the failures of a combat training unit to work together for their mutual benefit, but this opening premiere episode also addresses the larger mythology issues of the Clone Army in the STAR WARS universe. This first episode of the new season succeeds on multiple levels, highlighted by the new character Clone 99, and it's both a brilliant prequel to Rookies from Season One and a setup for the sequel ARC Troopers.
Despite the episodes gunfights and military assaults taking place on a training course, the episode boasts plenty of laser-blasting action which heightens the drama as Domino squad teeters on the verge of washing out of the Academy. Though mortal lives may not be at stake on the Citadel course, careers and life purposes are at great risk unless Domino overcomes their selfishness and learn teamwork. This dilemma creates considerable dramatic tension that involves viewers from the opening scene. Much like Yoda's lesson in Ambush opening Season One, individuality among the clones is not their weakness, but rather their unwillingness to combine those personal strengths as a unified group and apply that unity to completing their training. In the end, Domino squad succeed when inspired to act and fight like brothers, proving they are not deficient clones at all, and perhaps some of the best produced yet.
The introduction of 99 is an ingenious move in THE CLONE WARS storyline, since he straddles the border of both clone concepts: physically he's unable to serve as a warrior, but inside his stooped form beats the heart of a true clone trooper. He serves his duty to best of his ability, but more importantly he respects and honors his clone brothers individually, seeing the best potential in each of them he meets. 99 is a quite sympathetic character without becoming an object of pity. Though his slumping shoulders and drooping face may resemble a character like Quasimodo, viewers will quickly admire 99 for always acting out of pride and duty to his fellow clones and his personal service to the Republic. His animated design supports this internal strength despite his physical limitations, and Dee Bradley Baker deserves great credit for modulating his many clone voices to create this new variation. By slowing down his dialogue delivery while deepening and softening his vocal timbre, Baker creates an immediately likeable and memorable character out of the seemingly impossible task to differentiate yet another clone from the rest, as he must do constantly in episodes. Expect 99 to stand out as a highlight of Season Three and a fan favorite from the entire CLONE WARS series.
While Clone Cadets is somewhat limited in environmental scope, much of it taking place in limited locations like the training course, the episode's animation of character and action continue to raise the bar in the series to nearly feature-film quality results. Watch carefully how the animators vary the postures (and attitudes) of Domino squad to make them visually distinct from each other, since even their clear helmet visors reveal identical faces which only their numbered armor makes easy to track. Hevy fights boldly, carrying the heavy burden of both his leadership and the rotary blaster cannon he wields, while Droidbait has a slight cower in his stance as the most timid fighter in the group. Similarly, Bric is animated very aggressively, El-Les as the most passive bounty hunter in the galaxy, and Shaak Ti's animation speaks volumes about her calm, disciplined leadership as a Jedi General. Episode director Dave Filoni wisely contrasts the cold grays of the training course and laser-blastic action with quieter, warmer scenes exploring the dramatic development of the clones to humanize them. Kudos to score composer Kevin Kiner who places a very wistful yet heroic trumpet passage at the end of the episode which caps off the episode perfectly.
Now that the concept of literally deficient clones has now been introduced, this may well have large implications in STAR WARS mythology as clone troopers 'evolve' into the Original Trilogy stormtroopers. Lucasfilm touts Season Three with the slogan Secrets Revealed, and this premiere episode may well unlock the answer to a question posed since EPISODE II: why do all the clone troopers look and sound like Jango Fett, yet the Original Trilogy stormtroopers afterward vary a great deal in voice, size and personality? Note how George Lucas revised Boba Fett's voice in the Original Trilogy Special Editions to replicate Jango Fett's accent yet left the Stormtrooper voices the same as they were in 1977, which only underscores the implied genetic difference between the two models of soldiers. This episode poses the answer based on the limitations of repeatedly cloning Jango's DNA. Lama Su admits their cloning results on Kamino now show significant variations in quality and uniformity, with some batches of clones deemed outright failures as trooper prospects. This revelation opens the door for yet another secret to be revealed in the future: who provides the new template to create the Stormtrooper Army between EPISODE III and IV?
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ANALYSIS: We've seen hints of clones "going bad" previously in Hidden Enemy where Slick betrays his clone unit on Christophsis, bribed by Asajj Ventress to gain his freedom from clone "slavery" to the Jedi. Though Slick appeared identical in every way to his clone brothers, part of his success as a saboteur, he clearly shows psychological variations from the other clones who are appalled by his unthinkable treachery. What's so intriguing about this question of clone conformity and devoted service is that these very qualities serve the Republic during the Clone Wars, only to cause the downfall and near extinction of the Jedi under Palpatine's orders. Taken in a larger view including Anakin Skywalker's rebellion in youth, a given clone's desire to break out of 'slavery' as a soldier genetically engineered to sacrifice his life for the Republic would seem a heroic action. The boy Anakin hates being a slave to Watto on Tatooine and yearns for his freedom to fly among the stars. When the Jedi arrive to help him win his freedom, Anakin is elated and even leaves his mother behind in continued servitude (at her insistence) to pursue his destiny. Naturally the tragic irony of Anakin's life is his betrayal of the Jedi for more power, only to end up a slave to the Palpatine and the Dark Side of the Force.
Here in Seasons Two and Three, the very nature of the clones (being somewhat unnaturally produced) now contributes to the drama and danger slowly unfolding in the ranks of the Clone Army. This becomes a huge point of contention for the Jedi Order in STAR WARS mythology, as the concept of a virtually enslaved, engineered class of disposable soldiers goes against the core of Jedi ethics and principles of freedom and justice for all living beings. Yet Jedi Master Syfo-Dias secretly commissioned the Clone Army from the Kaminoans after a premonition the Republic would face an overwhelming military threat which the Jedi alone could not repel. He may have acted out of duty to preserve the Republic, but Syfo-Dias failed to account for the rising tide of darkness in the galaxy, which Palpatine and Dooku used to their mutual advantage in creating the foreseen crisis. Having been created and nurtured for the dark purposes of the Sith, it's not surprising that the Clone Army's end effect is disastrous for the Jedi and the galaxy. Now THE CLONE WARS series explores the drama and human cost of how exploiting the clones as a created race is a specific part of the galaxy's downfall into Sith-led destruction.
If the concept of deficient clones persists in the series, this implies that Palpatine must have been forced to find new genetic templates to create the Empire's stormtroopers before the events of A NEW HOPE, when the troopers bear no resemblance to their Fett-pattered clone forbearers. This plot twist is not only a convenient, clever solution to this prequel-caused lapse in continuity, it offers rich dramatic potential for future stories. As the TV episodes continue, events in them grow inevitably closer to those in REVENGE OF THE SITH and beyond, and so THE CLONE WARS figure more greatly in developing and deepening STAR WARS history, mythology and adventure.
CONTINUE TO OUR REVIEW OF EPISODE 3.02 'ARC TROOPERS'
GEORGE LUCAS AND DAVE FILONI ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CLONE WARS SEASON THREE |
