Hostage Crisis

As a Star Wars fan who was disappointed by the prequels, the first season of this show was a pleasant surprise, not great but much better than its dreadful pilot movie.

Still kid-friendly (I'd say fine from the age of 8) before darker later seasons, it follows the galactic conflict between Republican and Separatist forces. The whole series bridges the gap between Attack of the Clones (which I loathed) and Revenge of the Sith (which was flawed but I maintain had its moments).

Anakin is far more likable here than in the live-action films - finally the "best pilot, cunning warrior, good friend" he never managed to be in the prequels. However, this season is at its best when it follows not Skywalker and his apprentice Ahsoka (the plucky sidekick here still too obviously the young watchers' avatar) and not even Obi-Wan or Padme, but rather characters the movies either underserved (Yoda, Mace Windu) or treated like extras (Plo Koon, Kit Fisto and other Jedi Masters).

While I've never liked the narrative choice made in Episode II - I still believe the clones of the "Clone Wars" should have been the bad guys and the good guys just ordinary soldiers later forcibly drafted into the Empire, also the fact they are all Fett's clones feels like bad fanfiction - the show made the most out of this dubious premise in terms of characterization of the troopers.

Incidentally, I could have done without the brief newscast introduction to each episode and its overly excited narrator. It feels like a satire, something out of Starship Troopers. It's tonally weird.

Favorite episodes of the season: Rising Malevolence, Cloak of Darkness, Lair of Grievous, Trespass.

I deduct one point because the voice of Zero the Hutt is the worst noise known to man.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Anyways, good finale to a pretty decent season, the show gets much better later though.

The bounty hunters have always some of the coolest characters in the "Star Wars" lore, and this episode just introduced a bunch of great ones. Cad Bane has become an iconic character for the show, and his innovative skills and intelligence comes to play for full throttle in this episode. The core bounty hunter team had a lot of cool members that are fit a purpose, making them all unique and interchangeable. I thought that the episode's tie-ins to the film were a smart idea of how to make it feel like it actually meant something for the show, and the hostage situation was a cool idea that maybe didn't pay off that well at the end. Knowing what comes next, this seems like the perfect tease of who Cad Bane became, and I can't wait to experience that for myself again.

"Hostage Crisis" is a thrilling episode that showcases the cunning of Cad Bane and the resourcefulness of Anakin Skywalker. This episode, which serves as a sequel to "Evil Plans," offers a deeper dive into the intricate plot to free Ziro.

The animation is impressive, and the action sequences are intense and well-choreographed. Cad Bane's menacing presence and Anakin's clever tactics create a captivating dynamic. The episode also provides a glimpse into the political intrigue of the Galactic Senate, highlighting the dangers faced by its members.

While the plot is somewhat predictable, the execution is superb. The episode is filled with suspense, humor, and exciting twists and turns. It's a must-watch for any fan of the Clone Wars series.

Clone Wars first 3 seasons are strangely mixed up out of sequence and this episode is actually most sensibly watched after Season 3 episode 8.

Bounty Hunters led by Cad Bane carry out a mission to take senators in the senate building hostage so that they can negotiate the release of Ziro the Hutt.

This is an entertaining episode with the excellent villain Cad Bane's sneering threats and Anakin in peril without his lightsaber.

My rating: 8/10