WiC Watches: Season 7 of Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Photo: Star Wars: The Clone Wars Episode 709 “Old Friends Not Forgotten” – Image Courtesy Disney+
Episode 709: “Old Friends Not Forgotten”
This week’s episode opens a little differently than usual: the title card ia red instead of the usual yellow, and the main Star Wars movie theme by legendary composer John Williams played instead of the normal Clone Wars intro music. With just four episodes remaining in the series (counting this one) the show is telling us that from here on out, the fun and games of previous episodes are over.
From that ominous opening, we’re taken to a planet where Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker are defeating the Separatist’s droid army alongside their battalions of clones. It’s the first time we’ve sen Obi-Wan and Anakin fighting side by side since way back in season 5. Sure, this season saw them fighting in the same battle separately, but having them shoulder-to-shoulder once more was a nice nod to how things used to be.
Photo: Star Wars: The Clone Wars Episode 709 “Old Friends Not Forgotten” – Image Courtesy Disney+
Once they secure victory for the Republic, a transmission comes in from Fulcrum, a designation initially held by the freedom fighter Saw Gerrera. However, when Anakin and Obi-Wan board the Republic ship to investigate the source of the transmission, they realize it’s actually Ahsoka Tano.
This is an emotionally charged moment, as neither Anakin nor Obi-Wan had seen Ahsoka since she left the Jedi Order. There are a lot of emotions playing on their faces, from to shock to confusion to happiness.
Anakin is overjoyed to see his former padawan while Obi-Wan is hesitant about her intentions. For her part, Ahsoka remains cold and distant, still hurt over the situation that saw her voluntarily leave the Jedi Order before her training was complete.
Photo: Star Wars: The Clone Wars Episode 709 “Old Friends Not Forgotten” – Image Courtesy Disney+
Obviously, there’s a lot of history between these three. As a young padawan, Ahsoka joined Obi-Wan and Anakin at the start of the Clone Wars, and the three became nearly inseparable. Together, they freed entire planets from Separatist rule, faced the mysteries of the living Force planet Mortis, and successfully rescued countless Jedi, clones, and senators/leaders before Ahsoka left it all behind.
So to have Obi-Wan act standoffish likely hurts Ahsoka more than she lets on. Those simmering feelings spill over during a tense conversation when she accuses Kenobi of playing the usual Jedi politics when they learned the council has ordered them back to Coruscant to rescue Chancellor Palpatine. Ahsoka is angry they’re abandoning the people of Mandalore in their time of need in order to save one politician.
She’s right, too. One of the major faults of the Jedi Order during the Clone Wars was that it allowed itself to become too embroiled in politics, becoming blind in the Force, which led to the rise of the Sith.
Photo: Star Wars: The Clone Wars Episode 709 “Old Friends Not Forgotten” – Image Courtesy Disney+
Anyway, Anakin suggests leaving Rex and the 501st division behind with Ahsoka to help her free Mandalore from Darth Maul. After Order 66 happens and the clone soldiers slaughter the Jedi — after this in Revenge of the Sith — the 501st are renamed Vader’s Fist, since it consists of clones loyal to him when he was Anakin Skywalker. That’s a neat Easter egg that reminds of the tragedy coming just around the corner.
In a very rewarding and emotional moment, Anakin returns Ahsoka’s lightsabers to her — with some modifications, of course — and reveals the 501st have painted their helmets to resemble the markings on Ahsoka’s face.
Photo: Star Wars: The Clone Wars Episode 709 “Old Friends Not Forgotten” – Image Courtesy Disney+
Then, as Obi-Wan and Anakin turn toward Coruscant, Ahsoka, the 501st, and Bo-Katan’s Nite Owls land on Mandalore to begin the siege they hope will free the planet. They’re met with some resistance but make their way into a tunnel system where Maul has laid a trap for them. The former Sith Lord slowly walks into the light, saying he was hoping for his nemesis Kenobi instead of Ahsoka.
The episode ends with Ahsoka igniting her lightsabers and preparing for a battle with Maul.
I know I’ve said this about other episodes this season, but without a doubt, this was the absolute best episode of the final season of Star Wars: The Clones Wars yet. Not only did we get the emotionally-charged moment between Anakin and Ahsoka, but the Seige of Mandalore finally began, with heroes like Ahsoka, Bo-Katan and Ursa Wren on one side, and Maul and the eventual Viceroy of Mandalore, Gar Saxon, on the other.
If the final three episodes are packed with more of the same, we’ll be in for a finale to remember.