03-18-2017, 10:26 PM
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#385
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Norm!
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Ok, I just finished watching the episode thoughts in spoilers
Spoiler!
After a lot of build up for the Obi-Wan vs Maul duel I think some fans are going to come away wanting or even really angry.
It wasn't a terrific episode but it was important in terms of bringing an end to a story that goes all the way back to the Phantom Menace.
Of course it starts with Ezra getting a message basically from the holocron that leads him to deciding that Master Kenobi was in danger from Darth Maul. This was after the start of the episode where we saw Maul on Tatooine in what seemed like a case of revenge based madness and he decided to find a way to draw Obi-Wan out, so what was happening was fairly clear.
After Ezra goes to his friends and tells them that they need to basically help Kenobi because of how much he could bring to the rebellion, he was reminded about how much he is needed there. This almost goes back to the Empire strikes back where Yoda chides Luke about his head always looking for adventure instead of focusing on where he needs to be. Its clear that everyone believes that Ezra is needed to plan of the liberation of Lothal.
Anyways, Ezra steals a Awing and Chopper stows away and they head to Tatooine where Ezra uses the holocrons like a compass.
There were a couple of neat scenes as Ezra crossed the desert after surviving an ambush by the sandpeople that Maul saved him from.
Anyways, it was kind of cool as Ezra crossed the desert and kept hearing Maul's voice forcing him on. It reminded me of the story of Christ crossing the desert and the Devil continually trying to tempt him. It was a neat bit of story telling.
The other thing that I loved was Chopper in this episode. Last week I said that it was weird that I was starting to understand him, but I think they've purposely made him easy to understand. And I really loved his reaction when Ezra told him to keep to the ridge while he crossed the desert. It made Chopper seem a lot more loyal to Ezra. I've often said that while R2D2 is like the family dog, Chopper has always been like the aloof I don't care type of family cat. But he became the unwilling dog when he decided to stick with Ezra.
As they crossed the desert and got caught in a sandstorm, Chopper eventually fails in a nice moment Ezra you see a real sense of loss in Ezra. He also realizes that he's made a terrible mistake in coming here and the costs are too high. Then he loses consciousness only to wake up in Kenobi's camp.
Now as a break, I have to say that I wasn't crazy about the portrayal of Obi-Wan's voice as acted by Stepen Stanton (Who also did a exceptional job as Tarkin and AP-5. Throughout the Clone Wars series, and Rebel's he's been the every man of voice actors, but he just didn't sound much like Obi-Wan, maybe because my more recent memories are of the Clone Wars Obi-Wan played by James Tayler.
Anyways around the fire, Obi-Wan basically tells Ezra that he shouldn't be here, and that what seperates him from someone like Obi-Wan or another jedi is responsibility and a sense of doing what must be done. Ezra shouldn't have left the Rebel base, and by coming he's basically put things in jeopardy. Basically Obi-wan told Ezra that he's not a good jedi because he relies on his powers to much, and in my mind craves adventure and confrontation.
Then we get Maul entrance stage right for the confrontation. Obi-Wan tells Ezra that he's not needed and sends him on his way.
Maul to his credit figures out why Kenobi feels like someone who's not just hiding but has a sense of purpose, he then reaches the conclusion that Obi-Wan is hiding something or someone at which point Obi-Wan realizes that the whole I don't want to fight you stance is long past and ignites his light saber.
Now I'm sure that people were expecting an awesome final confrontation, even I was trembling a bit as Maul and Obi-Wan sized each other up. But as soon as the fight started it was over as Obi in one move sliced through Mauls saber and through Maul himself.
And with that Maul collapses and Obi cradles him as Maul asks if what Kenobi is hiding or guarding will destroy the Sith. When Obi-Wan nods, Maul's last words were then he will avenge us.
With that Maul's story arc ended and the episode ended with Ezra arriving back at the base to let them know that Maul was no longer a threat, and Obi-Wan watching Luke from a distance.
Part of me, like I said was a bit sore that the confrontation wasn't longer. But here's the thing. Maul was a minor piece in the Star Wars puzzle, he was no longer a Sith, and he was driven by petty revenge. Obi-Wan even stated that the desire to dominate and possess makes one weaker and not stronger. That reasoning alone makes the quick battle make sense. Also while Maul was pursuing revenge, I tend to believe that Obi-Wan spent time in the desert becoming not a stronger, but a smarter Jedi. Age = Wisdom makes a lot of sense here.
Was I sad to see Maul go? Sure a bit, because the Mandalorian arc made him a great character, but in the Rebels stories with Maul you saw him as a guy driven irrational by his single minded quest for revenge. I do feel though that overall there was a writers gap as the writers lead us to believe that Maul simply hated Obi-Wan, but when he died you got a sense that there was a bigger character justification in that Maul hated the Sith and the Empire for abandoning him, and if they would have explored that his death might have been more meaningful.
Overall not a great episode, but it had some nice story telling and imagery. Also when we talk about character development, Chopper has gotten a load of it this season and you almost sensed him saying "Oh for gods sake" when he decided to cross the desert.
The line by Kenobi where he said "Maul lead you here where you should never been seen" almost felt like a sly shot at the continual introduction of major and minor Star Wars characters from the EU and movies to the Ghosts crew.
Next week is the two part episode involving the battle of Lothal as the season finale. I tend to think that its going to need something special to wipe out the sour taste that some fans might have.
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My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
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