The Clone Wars: Season 7: Episode 11: "Shattered"
The Clone Wars: Season 7: Episode 11: "Shattered" written by Dave Filoni, directed by Saul Ruiz
WOW!!! My jaw has remained dropped throughout this entire episode. I can't even believe the writers pulled off something this incredibly brilliant. And the music in this episode is so freaking creepy!! It goes right along with the very real, very gruesome actions that a certain former Sith Lord enacts. Problem is, his actions are necessary because Order 66 has been declared... This is definitely an episode that doesn't pull any punches. It is dark and scary and oh so sad.
Before I get into the crux of the episode, I wanted to mention that Ahsoka does get her lightsabers back! Bo-Katan apparently found them after they fell in the last episode.
And now for the jaw-dropping wonder of what this episode presented to us!!! The last episode's fight between Ahsoka and Maul did NOT take place at the same time as the Jedi Council members going to arrest the Chancellor despite the sonic cue. We know this because we see the conversation (in hologram) between Mace, Aayla, Ki-Adi-Mundi, and Yoda about the Chancellor needing to give up Emergency Powers. "The Dark Side of the Force surrounds the Chancellor" - Mace says, just as he did in Revenge of the Sith. Ahsoka walks in at the point in the conversation when the fade out to the next scene happens in ROTS. She declares that she has captured Maul and has done her duty as a citizen not a Jedi. When Ahsoka proclaims that the war may almost be over since Obi-Wan has found Grievous on Utapau and Maul has been captured, Mace says, "That depends on the Chancellor." After asking what he means, Mace says, "I'm sorry citizen. These matters are for the Council to discuss." Harsh!!! But Ahsoka, with the grace she has acquired from her mountains of experiences just replies that she understands. If only she had been told about Mace's previous statement on the Dark Side surrounding the Chancellor, she may have been able to put two and two together and discerned Maul was right about Anakin's fall. What she could have done about it...I don't know. But perhaps she and Maul could've teamed up to try and delay the inevitable. Of course, I love the story as is!! I'm just speculating here.
We see Maul in a rectangular confinement pod meant to imprison Jedi. As Bo-Katan says, "A relic of a bygone era when Mandalorians had reason to imprison you Force-wielding maniacs." Ha! I love this and would definitely be happy to learn more about the Jedi-Mandalorian War!! Apparently, this pod is the last one left--see it below.
On the Venator-class Star Destroyer as Ahsoka, Rex, and crew are headed back to Coruscant with Maul, we HEAR the confrontation between Mace and Anakin actually take place along with Anakin's "What have I done?!" as Ahsoka FEELS the confrontation in the Force. It is one of the most powerful scenes in ALL of the Clone Wars and all it visually includes is Maul's eyes flaring open in terror and Ahsoka standing on the bridge of the Star Destroyer reacting to what she's feeling in the Force. It was absolutely phenomenal story-telling!
And then?? It's Order 66 time and ALL the clones, including Rex!, turn on her and start firing. See the image at the beginning of this review for her in swift action against the oncoming blasts. So we find out how Rex dealt with the Order...not at all what I think many of us expected. He actually DOES move to attack Ahsoka, but simultaneously seems to have a brain hiccup as he mentions Fives. Regardless of his intent, Rex does not hurt her so he is spared that burden in the future. Ahsoka makes it her mission throughout the remainder of the episode to figure out WHY the clones turned on her and Maul. She looks through records to do with Fives (since Rex said his name just as he turned against her) and discovers the chip!! Once emboldened with this knowledge, she seeks to capture Rex and remove his chip to regain her close friend and ally (see her with Rex in the medbay as she's searching for the chip below).
As for the destruction Maul wreaks as a diversion for Ahsoka? Heads are chopped off and arms are dismembered... I wasn't kidding when I said this episode was dark...
I CANNOT WAIT to see what they add on past this as we know by this time, the Jedi have fallen and Anakin, well, Darth Vader has murdered all the younglings in the Jedi temple. Will Ahsoka and Rex be shown witnessing the rise of the Empire?? Will we see Vader in his iconic black suit?? Will we hear from Obi-Wan or Yoda?? Ahhhh!!!! I cannot express how absolutely amazing this arc has been. I LOVE that it wasn't just the Siege of Mandalore but truly and deeply incorporated ROTS such that both are taking place simultaneously--talk about the ultimate in canon connectivity! My canon junkie/prequel heart is weeping with joy right now. May the 4th is going to be one intense day!
Before I get into the crux of the episode, I wanted to mention that Ahsoka does get her lightsabers back! Bo-Katan apparently found them after they fell in the last episode.
And now for the jaw-dropping wonder of what this episode presented to us!!! The last episode's fight between Ahsoka and Maul did NOT take place at the same time as the Jedi Council members going to arrest the Chancellor despite the sonic cue. We know this because we see the conversation (in hologram) between Mace, Aayla, Ki-Adi-Mundi, and Yoda about the Chancellor needing to give up Emergency Powers. "The Dark Side of the Force surrounds the Chancellor" - Mace says, just as he did in Revenge of the Sith. Ahsoka walks in at the point in the conversation when the fade out to the next scene happens in ROTS. She declares that she has captured Maul and has done her duty as a citizen not a Jedi. When Ahsoka proclaims that the war may almost be over since Obi-Wan has found Grievous on Utapau and Maul has been captured, Mace says, "That depends on the Chancellor." After asking what he means, Mace says, "I'm sorry citizen. These matters are for the Council to discuss." Harsh!!! But Ahsoka, with the grace she has acquired from her mountains of experiences just replies that she understands. If only she had been told about Mace's previous statement on the Dark Side surrounding the Chancellor, she may have been able to put two and two together and discerned Maul was right about Anakin's fall. What she could have done about it...I don't know. But perhaps she and Maul could've teamed up to try and delay the inevitable. Of course, I love the story as is!! I'm just speculating here.
We see Maul in a rectangular confinement pod meant to imprison Jedi. As Bo-Katan says, "A relic of a bygone era when Mandalorians had reason to imprison you Force-wielding maniacs." Ha! I love this and would definitely be happy to learn more about the Jedi-Mandalorian War!! Apparently, this pod is the last one left--see it below.
And then?? It's Order 66 time and ALL the clones, including Rex!, turn on her and start firing. See the image at the beginning of this review for her in swift action against the oncoming blasts. So we find out how Rex dealt with the Order...not at all what I think many of us expected. He actually DOES move to attack Ahsoka, but simultaneously seems to have a brain hiccup as he mentions Fives. Regardless of his intent, Rex does not hurt her so he is spared that burden in the future. Ahsoka makes it her mission throughout the remainder of the episode to figure out WHY the clones turned on her and Maul. She looks through records to do with Fives (since Rex said his name just as he turned against her) and discovers the chip!! Once emboldened with this knowledge, she seeks to capture Rex and remove his chip to regain her close friend and ally (see her with Rex in the medbay as she's searching for the chip below).
I CANNOT WAIT to see what they add on past this as we know by this time, the Jedi have fallen and Anakin, well, Darth Vader has murdered all the younglings in the Jedi temple. Will Ahsoka and Rex be shown witnessing the rise of the Empire?? Will we see Vader in his iconic black suit?? Will we hear from Obi-Wan or Yoda?? Ahhhh!!!! I cannot express how absolutely amazing this arc has been. I LOVE that it wasn't just the Siege of Mandalore but truly and deeply incorporated ROTS such that both are taking place simultaneously--talk about the ultimate in canon connectivity! My canon junkie/prequel heart is weeping with joy right now. May the 4th is going to be one intense day!
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