Growing Up Skywalker

Season 7 of the Clone Wars only has three arcs, and we finished up the second by recapping 7.3–4, “On the Wings of Keeradaks” and “Unfinished Business.”

The second half of the Bad Batch arc isn’t nearly as much fun as the first. Echo has to regain the trust of everyone around him (and find trust in himself). Rex has to carry his guilt over leaving a man behind. And Anakin has to face the fact that he no longer considers himself a Jedi.

So, this arc is less fun, but no less worthy. We laugh a LOT about Wat Tambor, Mace Windu and the TechnoUnion being full of nerds.

Next week, we’ll start the final arc of S7: the Siege of Mandalore, Part 1 (“Old Friends Not Forgotten” and “The Phantom Apprentice”). Then we’re returning to Episode 1: The Phantom Menace and Episode 2: Attack of the Clones! We’ll review those in single episodes, and then finish up the final arc of S7.

The Bad Batch is the Best Batch and that’s canon.

This week, we recapped the phenomenal first half of the Bad Batch Arc (The Clone Wars 7.1–2, “The Bad Batch” and “A Distant Echo”). Anna cried, Sam mused, and we laughed a LOT.

The Bad Batch are an elite special forces squad of “defective” clones with “desirable mutations.” In other words, they are fantastic — and different from Rex and Cody, who team up with them to infiltrate a Separatist cyber center to unravel why their enemies are anticipating their every move.

We talk all about Clone 99 being the house dad of the entire clone operation on Kamino, why you want (and don’t want) an entire clone army made out of Bad Batchers, and why Hunter is a walking thirst trap. Also, how Padmé is second-trimester-preggo in this arc and Anakin didn’t notice (?!).

Next week, we’ll finish the Bad Batch Arc, covering TCW 7.3–4, “On the Wings of Keeradaks” and “Unfinished Business.”

The second half of the Martez Sisters Arc (The Clone Wars 7.7–8, “Dangerous Debt” and “Together Again”) has us debating the thorniest ethics questions around. But like, in a fun way.

This arc sees Ahsoka, Rafa and Trace escaping from the Pyke prison — again — and again — and again. While their dashing escapes are foiled, we get to catch up with some old faves: Bo-Katan and the Nite Owls, that random goat guy from Season 5 and (spoiler alert) DARTH MAUL?!?! We also get the tragic Martez sister backstory and a few minor prison breaks.

We hope you’re waiting with bated breath for next week…the first half of the CHAD BATCH ARC! We’ll be covering TCW 7.1–2, “The Bad Batch” and “A Distant Echo.”

Do you ever have days when you just want to be part of a cool trio of BIPOC female minor criminals, and it’s just not working out that great for you? Ahsoka does!

In the Martez Sisters Arc, Part 1 (The Clone Wars 7.5–6, “Gone with a Trace” and “Deal No Deal”) we find out what Ahsoka’s been up to for the last minute or two — trying to keep a disreputable minor crime-lord and her sister out of trouble.

In our recap, we talk about living a life of crime in the Coruscant underworld, the Martez sisters’ wonky dynamic, and how great the animation is in Season 7.

Tune in next week for the exciting conclusion to this arc — TCW 7.7–8, “Dangerous Debt” and “Together Again.”

Season 6 of The Clone Wars ends not with a bang, but with a sigh of surrender — and hope for a different kind of victory.

In the Yoda’s Journey Arc (TCW 6.11–13, “Voices,” “Destiny,” and “Sacrifice”) we follow Yoda from Coruscant to Dagobah, to the heart of the universe, and then finally to Moraband, the ancient homeworld of the Sith. His quest takes him through every step of the Hero’s Journey in pursuit of “the great gift:” the secret of creating consciousness after death. And he discovers the truth about the Jedi’s hopes of winning the Clone War.

Throughout his quest, Yoda has to face down everything from creepy-crawly Sith smoke snakes to the dark gremlin inside of himself. And it…is…FANTASTIC. We do a blow-by-blow recap of the epic duel between Yoda and the Dark Lord of the Sith, recite a CVS receipt-length litany of Yoda wisdom and shed some tears for the wisest Jedi of all.

Next week, we’re beginning Season 7 of The Clone Wars! YAHOO! Tune in for our recap of the first half of the Martez Sisters Arc (TCW 7.5–6, “Gone with a Trace” and “Deal or No Deal”).

In which the Jedi Council remembers they never bothered to have a funeral for Sifo-Dyas.

We jest. “The Lost One” (The Clone Wars 6.10) is a dense and beautiful foreshadowing for the events of Revenge of the Sith. It also gives us a seven-layer tiramisu of MYSTERIES. Why did Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas have to die? Why did Dooku care about him at all? And what was the relationship between them? Also, who gave the Pykes the right to be so great?

For our recap, we hop into the Mystery Van and go sleuthing. We also talk about how much we love Pyke society, Obi-Wan and Anakin as “complementary halves of a single warrior” and break down the most beautiful lightsaber duel of the Clone Wars so far. (Spoiler alert: Dooku is the SECOND-best part.)

Next week, we’re covering the final arc of Season 6: Yoda’s Journey (6.11–13, “Voices,” “Destiny,” and “Sacrifice”).

In the glorious Disappeared Arc of the Clone Wars, Jar Jar gets to be a love interest…the hero of the galaxy…and the one who gets the girl. Oh, Mace Windu is there, too.

The Disappeared Arc (The Clone Wars 6.8–9, “The Disappeared, Part One” and “The Disappeared, Part Two”) introduces us to the Dagoyan Masters of Bardotta, ancient mystics who are estranged from the Jedi Order. But their mystics are disappearing one by one, and it’s up to the unlikely dream team of Jar Jar Binks and Mace Windu to save them — and the galaxy.

If you did not already know, this podcast is a #1 foam finger Jar Jar Binks fan club. Even without him, this arc would be FAN-TASTIC. It gives us demon cultists who wear terrifying masks and backhand people down stone slip-and-slides, an ancient prophecy foretelling the rise of darkness across the galaxy, deeper discussions on the living Force, and a scene where Jar Jar and Mace Windu have to rent space-camels to go charging across the desert to save Jar Jar’s one true love. I don’t know what more you could want!!

Next week, we’re covering a one-off episode: “The Lost One” ( The Clone Wars 6.10). Then we’re onto the final arc of Season 6: Yoda’s Journey (6.11–13, “Voices,” “Destiny,” and “Sacrifice”).

Guess who’s back, back again? The Right Honorable Rush Clovis — except he’s wrong, and dishonorable, and wrecking not just Anakin and Padmé’s marriage but also the GALAXY’S ENTIRE BANKING SYSTEM.

In our recap of the Rush Clovis Arc (The Clone Wars 6.5–7, "An Old Friend", "The Rise of Clovis,” and "Crisis at the Heart”) we talk about why the Clone Wars chose to tell another economic story, and figure out why it’s so compelling. We talk about Padmé and Anakin’s terrible marriage, whether or not Rush Clovis is redeemable, and why Palpatine is the GOAT master planner.

It’s all set against the gorgeous Swiss chalet backdrop of Scipio, feat. Embo, his dog, and an absolutely fantastic snowboard chase scene.

Next week, we get a palate cleanser in the form of a JAR-JAR ARC! We’re watching “The Disappeared” parts one and two (The Clone Wars 6.8–9).

In which we discuss how Fives revealed the entire Sith ascension plan to some of the most powerful people in the galaxy…….and they didn’t listen.

The end of the Conspiracy Arc (The Clone Wars 6.3–4, “Fugitive” and “Orders”) shows us how the truth dies: in a dark office, with Chancellor Palpatine gaslight/gatekeep/girlbossing you for all you’re worth. In this arc, we follow Fives’ desperate scramble to reveal the conspiracy of the clones’ inhibitor chips. We see the Sith’s plan to discredit him — by framing him for an assassination attempt against the Chancellor — and discuss how the Kaminoans are complicit in about 10,000,000 different ways. It's all part of Palpatine's plan to execute Order 66.

Sam promises that there is more to this story, which is great, because this arc is HEARTBREAKING.

Next week, we’re starting the Rush Clovis Arc! (Yes, folks, he’s back!) We’ll recap The Clone Wars 6.5–7, "An Old Friend", "The Rise of Clovis,” and "Crisis at the Heart."

The first episodes of Season 6 of The Clone Wars (6.1–2, “The Unknown” and “Conspiracy”) tell us exactly why the Clone Wars exist. And that’s just the BEGINNING.

In our recap, we talk about how Anna forgot Order 66 happened (but alas, social media exists). We deliver a treatise on why Fives is The Best, how this episode is a storytelling Russian nesting doll, and what the inhibitor chips really steal from the clones. Justice for Season 6, these episodes are gorgeous.

Next week, we’re finishing the Conspiracy Arc with 6.2–3, “Fugitive” and “Orders.”