3 hours ago, Inquisitor Tremayne said:

They've been setting up where each character's head is at for when Order 66 comes down.

Rex is loyal to his friends above all, risking mission and lives to save Echo. Clearly he is going to defy O66.

There are "rogue" clones, like the bad batch, that clearly think for themselves. O66 is not going to be as smooth as depicted in the EP III.

Ahsoka now has a more rounded view of the Jedi and realizes they are even more flawed since they can't connect to the common people they are fighting for.

Anakin is as self-righteous as ever. Probably feels even more emboldened since he thinks he is hiding his marriage well.

I think it has been a good set up so far.

I think you're forgetting the episodes that revealed there is an organic "switch" that will force the clones into following the eventual Order 66.

Not sure we've gotten an answer yet on how Rex and a few others will bypass that (other than through surgery).

11 minutes ago, Harlock999 said:

I think you're forgetting the episodes that revealed there is an organic "switch" that will force the clones into following the eventual Order 66.

Not sure we've gotten an answer yet on how Rex and a few others will bypass that (other than through surgery).

Forgetting the chip arc or remembering that the chip arc was kicked off by Tup’s chip malfunctioning?

Seemed to me that the arc was not only establishing why Order 66 went the way it did, but also laying the groundwork for an “out” allowing some of the clones to break through that control.

I like the Bad Batch arc. Sure it wasn't perfect, but I think it was pretty good (7/10). My main issue with it would have to be that it wasn't original, having been a part of the story reels, so it doesn't have the same punch to it. If it was new, probably 8/10.

This last arc really was pretty lackluster though.

31 minutes ago, Harlock999 said:

never bothered to explain the origins of the commando squad

This is a complaint I will never get used to.

12 minutes ago, Nytwyng said:

Forgetting the chip arc or remembering that the chip arc was kicked off by Tup’s chip malfunctioning?

Seemed to me that the arc was not only establishing why Order 66 went the way it did, but also laying the groundwork for an “out” allowing some of the clones to break through that control.

Yep.

But note I was responding to Tremayne's assertion that loyalty or attitude would be the reason some clones would not follow Order 66 (due to what he/she perceived to be a "good set up" so far this season). It sure seemed like he/she had forgotten most of the clones won't have a choice in the matter.

...unless, of course, their chips malfunction or are taken out through surgery.

7 minutes ago, DanteRotterdam said:

This is a complaint I will never get used to.

Why?

If something new is presented - with little to no explanation - that changes the way a narrative universe and its rules are perceived, then shouldn't it deserve some kind of origin story?

45 minutes ago, Harlock999 said:

Do you honestly believe the last four episodes have been truly worthwhile? Seriously, Daeglan? The seventh episode this season proceeded as follows: 1) the "heroes" escape, 2) the "heroes" are chased, 3) the "heroes" are caught and imprisoned again. It was laughable. This past arc was way, way below the standards previously set by this series. Lame characterization, SLOOOOOOOW pacing, and ridiculous actions by our protagonists and antagonists in every single installment.

The Bad Batch four-parter, meanwhile, never bothered to explain the origins of the commando squad or how their "disabilities" differed from those we'd seen in the past that had caused *debilitating deformities*. I mean, if genetic abnormalities in the clones can lead to increased intelligence or heightened strength (I mean, apparently, insanely heightened strength!), then why weren't the Kaminoans working feverishly to reproduce those effects on even more clones? Sigh. While not a terrible arc, the Bad Batch storyline really just got us some answers on Echo. Otherwise, it was pretty much a throwaway that led to even more questions than answers.

I'm actually very much a fan of (both) the Clone Wars series. But I really can't see anyone defending this season's mediocrity (thus far).

Yes I do. It is setting up her frame of mind after leaving the Jedi. It also is showing how the average person sees the Jedi. So kind of important.

1 minute ago, Harlock999 said:

Why?

If something new is presented - with little to no explanation - that changes the way a narrative universe and its rules are perceived, then shouldn't it deserve some kind of origin story?

I think it had... enough of an origin story. I'd like more, but I'm not too bent out of shape about it (if largely because I'm generally pretty good at filling in the blanks).

We know they were an experiment, and I believe (though I might be mistaken) that the Kaminoans were not proponents of it and still considered them defective. I'd surmise from available information that they were defective, but the mutations ended up being beneficial. The Kaminoans wanted to "terminate the subjects" but the Jedi intervened. The Kaminoans either 1. struggled to replicate the mutations with potentially disturbing results, 2. flat-out refused, or 3. they did try, but are still in development either on the drawing board, in the cloning vats, or in the sims.

Just now, Daeglan said:

Yes I do. It is setting up her frame of mind after leaving the Jedi. It also is showing how the average person sees the Jedi. So kind of important.

Yeah, important, but not done all that well.

3 minutes ago, P-47 Thunderbolt said:

Yeah, important, but not done all that well.

My only issue is some of the weirdly stupid decisions that Trace made...

Just now, Daeglan said:

My only issue is some of the weirdly stupid decisions that Trace made...

Totally agree with you on this one. *facepalm* UGHHHH. Idiot. I hate watching idiots be idiots. It hurts.

6 minutes ago, P-47 Thunderbolt said:

I think it had... enough of an origin story. I'd like more, but I'm not too bent out of shape about it (if largely because I'm generally pretty good at filling in the blanks).

We know they were an experiment, and I believe (though I might be mistaken) that the Kaminoans were not proponents of it and still considered them defective. I'd surmise from available information that they were defective, but the mutations ended up being beneficial. The Kaminoans wanted to "terminate the subjects" but the Jedi intervened. The Kaminoans either 1. struggled to replicate the mutations with potentially disturbing results, 2. flat-out refused, or 3. they did try, but are still in development either on the drawing board, in the cloning vats, or in the sims.

Throwing some of this stuff into dialogue and banter between our protagonists would have made the whole arc go down a whole lot smoother IMHO. It could have been seamless.

Good analysis btw, P-47.

Though not perfect, I think the middle arc of the season gets a rough time. I liked the Martez sisters (though as an older sibling I found myself understanding Rafa far more than Trace) and it was good seeing more of the Pykes and it was an important stepping stone for Ahsoka's character - getting her out and about and away from the Jedi before the SoM pulls her back in. Without the Martez arc it would feel like she stepped out of the Order in one episode then came right back to it in the next.

I think folks would have been a lot kinder to this arc if it wasn't taking up a precious 1/3 of what we know is our final season. But since the whole season itself is one big bonus (this show was buried for years by now, after all) I'm not salty about that.

11 minutes ago, Daeglan said:

My only issue is some of the weirdly stupid decisions that Trace made...

Since you conceded that not everything was perfect in the last arc? I will also make a concession... I actually LOVED the fact we saw "Walrusman" again along with "Hammerhead," "Snaggletooth," and "Greedo." The kid in me who grew up playing with those action figures (usually jammed up in my Slave I to be Boba Fett's cohorts) made me grin like a goofball whenever they appeared on screen.

Just now, Kualan said:

Though not perfect, I think the middle arc of the season gets a rough time. I liked the Martez sisters (though as an older sibling I found myself understanding Rafa far more than Trace) and it was good seeing more of the Pykes and it was an important stepping stone for Ahsoka's character - getting her out and about and away from the Jedi before the SoM pulls her back in. Without the Martez arc it would feel like she stepped out of the Order in one episode then came right back to it in the next.

I dislike both Martez sisters, but I agree with you about the Pykes and Ahsoka's character, I just think they and she deserved a better arc and supporting characters for it.

1 minute ago, Kualan said:

I think folks would have been a lot kinder to this arc if it wasn't taking up a precious 1/3 of what we know is our final season. But since the whole season itself is one big bonus (this show was buried for years by now, after all) I'm not salty about that.

Definitely. It would have been one of those things you can brush off as a "meh" entry. It's the opportunity cost that hurts.

I disagree with you about the season being a bonus, though. They had a few more seasons planned that would have covered this time period, but Disney cancelled them. I'm not saying we're entitled to this, or to more Clone Wars than we're getting, but I don't consider this a bonus. More like an apology, in a way.

3 minutes ago, Harlock999 said:

Since you conceded that not everything was perfect in the last arc? I will also make a concession... I actually LOVED the fact we saw "Walrusman" again along with "Hammerhead," "Snaggletooth," and "Greedo." The kid in me who grew up playing with those action figures (usually jammed up in my Slave I to be Boba Fett's cohorts) made me grin like a goofball whenever they appeared on screen.

You had me confused there for a second. I wasn't able to figure out who you were talking about, so I looked it up. I went " Oooh ... an Aqualish. Oh, a Snivvian. Oh, an Ithorian." I was wracking my brain for something that stuck out in the episode, but nothing did. Now I know why.

43 minutes ago, Harlock999 said:

Yep.

But note I was responding to Tremayne's assertion that loyalty or attitude would be the reason some clones would not follow Order 66 (due to what he/she perceived to be a "good set up" so far this season). It sure seemed like he/she had forgotten most of the clones won't have a choice in the matter.

...unless, of course, their chips malfunction or are taken out through surgery.

...or due to their particular strength of will and personalities causing their malfunctions.

Just sayin’.

20 minutes ago, P-47 Thunderbolt said:

You had me confused there for a second. I wasn't able to figure out who you were talking about, so I looked it up. I went " Oooh ... an Aqualish. Oh, a Snivvian. Oh, an Ithorian." I was wracking my brain for something that stuck out in the episode, but nothing did. Now I know why.

Just now, Harlock999 said:

Sorry for the low-res pic, but I seemingly cannot attach any image larger than 10 kb.

I see no pic, however, I did see the figures when I searched. It's just that to me, they are associated with the species name rather than the figure's name.

8 minutes ago, P-47 Thunderbolt said:

I see no pic, however, I did see the figures when I searched. It's just that to me, they are associated with the species name rather than the figure's name.

Me too.

But in that recent four-parter, the *exact* characters/figures seen above appear throughout. (We'd seen "Walrusman" before in Season 5's "Missing in Action," I believe.)

PS - I fixed the image.

2 minutes ago, Harlock999 said:

Me too.

But in that recent four-parter, the *exact* characters/figures seen above appear throughout. (We'd seen "Walrusman" before in Season 5's "Missing in Action," I believe.)

Ah, okay. That puts a new light on it. I hadn't realized that. Cool.

Yeah, the trivia galleries on the official website confirmed they were an homage to the Kenner figures. Neat little Easter egg.

SW not bothering to explain the science magic? You don't say.

Also, wannabe criminals ending up back where they started after all their desperate running around is a perfect illustration of the criminal life they're about to enter in earnest.

We get a fanfare opening now!?

2 hours ago, DanteRotterdam said:

We get a fanfare opening now!?

Well, we are in Episode 3 now.. This episode is basically taking place during the opening crawl 😄