Clone Wars Debriefing: "Altar Of Mortis"
There were times while watching last night's episode when I thought to myself, "How are they ever going to top this arc?" Is it really possible to make it more mind-blowing? Where do you go from here?
There are fans who would much rather focus on the "real world" battles with clones and stuff, but for someone like me who has been intensely interested in the mythical, mystical, and philosophical aspects of Star Wars and an Anakin fangirl to boot, well, it's almost as good as finding Hayden gift-wrapped on my doorstep.
The Dagobah Cave On Steroids Adventure Continues when Son continues to entice Anakin to join him in a dream. Anakin awakens and Son suddenly shows up on the ship--remember, Anakin, Ahsoka, and Obi-Wan are trying to fly out of Mortis--then Son grabs Ahsoka and takes off. Shortly after an amazingly animated chase scene Anakin and Obi-Wan crash in the ship.
Let's pause for a moment. Son knows Anakin's big weak spot is his attachments and while he would have just as easily gone off to rescue Obi-Wan, Ahsoka is a little different because she is young and she is Anakin's responsibility. Naturally, Anakin is drawn out to rescue Ahsoka. But while disguising himself as a House Elf, Son bites Ahsoka and gives her Dark Side Rabies. I know I knocked the magic ritual used in the Savage Opress episode but here it worked for me. Biting is a rape motif and the idea here is that Son is corrupting Ahsoka against her will with a means to an end...to draw out Anakin and trap him.
Ashley Eckstein does a great job as Evil!Ahsoka. She's creepy and disturbing, giggling while telling Anakin he'll be forced to kill her. She sort of reminds me of Harley Quinn from the Batman animated series.
Meanwhile, Son is also plotting to rub out Father. Daughter figures she has to stop him, so she breaks a forbidden rule and leads Obi-Wan to a magic dagger hidden in a cavern, explaining that it's one of the few things that can stop a Force-wielder. It's interesting to note that the representative of light is the one who leads Obi-Wan, the lifelong Jedi, to this item. He doesn't do a heck of a lot with it but it is kind of like the Lady of the Lake and Excalibur.
Evil!Ahsoka attacks Anakin and the two duel while Anakin desperately tries to talk some sense into her. Anakin shows a lot more compassion toward Ahsoka than Obi-Wan does toward Anakin in ROTS. Ahem. Eventually Obi-Wan is drawn into this battle while Daughter and Son fight. The fight scenes are all fantastic. My favorite animated shot was Ahsoka getting pushed back by the Force and her lightsabers drag into the ground. Awesome!
Obi-Wan tries to hand off the magic dagger to Anakin, but Evil!Ahsoka intercepts it and gives it to Son. Son "kills" Ahsoka and then tries to kill Dear Old Dad, but Daughter, ever the self-sacrificial nature of the light, throws herself in front of Son's blade. Son freaks out and leaves. The mortally-wounded Daughter offers, in yet another sacrificial act, to give what's little of her life force to Ahsoka. Demigod!Anakin acts as a Force conduit. So we see Anakin using powers to save someone's life, naturally reinforcing the idea that power can "cheat" death. He probably doesn't think too much about the fact it's really a sacrificial act.
I'll also note that it's interesting how the light is represented by a female, the anima in Jungian terms, saves another female. The elimination of the female in ROTS represents an imbalance just as the dark side overwhelms the light. And as soon as Daughter croaks, things start to go to heck on Mortis. Father fears Son is going to try and escape. Remember he'd brought Son and Daughter to Mortis in order to prevent them from tearing everything apart. But now that Ahsoka has some of Daughter's light, does that make her the light of the galaxy?
I think I'm starting to get what Lucas's point is re balance. Too much dark means there's evil. The light, as represented by Daughter, is "good" but she is also passive and aloof. Too much light then could mean apathy, even weakness.
Sam Witwer as Son has been doing an amazing job. He manages to bring elements of every bad guy we've seen so far in Star Wars into his part as Son.
This arc has exemplified the benefits of bringing aboard ILM staffer Joel Aron this season. Several shots look just as good as anything in the actual films.
There has been some grumbling about the fantastical elements or the references to other movies. The episode guide on starwars.com flat out says the visual references to LOTR were intentional. I guess we're so used to seeing Star Wars influence other people we forget that influences can run both ways.
Next week: Anakin is shown spoilers from ROTS and fails to heed them.
There are fans who would much rather focus on the "real world" battles with clones and stuff, but for someone like me who has been intensely interested in the mythical, mystical, and philosophical aspects of Star Wars and an Anakin fangirl to boot, well, it's almost as good as finding Hayden gift-wrapped on my doorstep.
The Dagobah Cave On Steroids Adventure Continues when Son continues to entice Anakin to join him in a dream. Anakin awakens and Son suddenly shows up on the ship--remember, Anakin, Ahsoka, and Obi-Wan are trying to fly out of Mortis--then Son grabs Ahsoka and takes off. Shortly after an amazingly animated chase scene Anakin and Obi-Wan crash in the ship.
Let's pause for a moment. Son knows Anakin's big weak spot is his attachments and while he would have just as easily gone off to rescue Obi-Wan, Ahsoka is a little different because she is young and she is Anakin's responsibility. Naturally, Anakin is drawn out to rescue Ahsoka. But while disguising himself as a House Elf, Son bites Ahsoka and gives her Dark Side Rabies. I know I knocked the magic ritual used in the Savage Opress episode but here it worked for me. Biting is a rape motif and the idea here is that Son is corrupting Ahsoka against her will with a means to an end...to draw out Anakin and trap him.
Ashley Eckstein does a great job as Evil!Ahsoka. She's creepy and disturbing, giggling while telling Anakin he'll be forced to kill her. She sort of reminds me of Harley Quinn from the Batman animated series.
Meanwhile, Son is also plotting to rub out Father. Daughter figures she has to stop him, so she breaks a forbidden rule and leads Obi-Wan to a magic dagger hidden in a cavern, explaining that it's one of the few things that can stop a Force-wielder. It's interesting to note that the representative of light is the one who leads Obi-Wan, the lifelong Jedi, to this item. He doesn't do a heck of a lot with it but it is kind of like the Lady of the Lake and Excalibur.
Evil!Ahsoka attacks Anakin and the two duel while Anakin desperately tries to talk some sense into her. Anakin shows a lot more compassion toward Ahsoka than Obi-Wan does toward Anakin in ROTS. Ahem. Eventually Obi-Wan is drawn into this battle while Daughter and Son fight. The fight scenes are all fantastic. My favorite animated shot was Ahsoka getting pushed back by the Force and her lightsabers drag into the ground. Awesome!
Obi-Wan tries to hand off the magic dagger to Anakin, but Evil!Ahsoka intercepts it and gives it to Son. Son "kills" Ahsoka and then tries to kill Dear Old Dad, but Daughter, ever the self-sacrificial nature of the light, throws herself in front of Son's blade. Son freaks out and leaves. The mortally-wounded Daughter offers, in yet another sacrificial act, to give what's little of her life force to Ahsoka. Demigod!Anakin acts as a Force conduit. So we see Anakin using powers to save someone's life, naturally reinforcing the idea that power can "cheat" death. He probably doesn't think too much about the fact it's really a sacrificial act.
I'll also note that it's interesting how the light is represented by a female, the anima in Jungian terms, saves another female. The elimination of the female in ROTS represents an imbalance just as the dark side overwhelms the light. And as soon as Daughter croaks, things start to go to heck on Mortis. Father fears Son is going to try and escape. Remember he'd brought Son and Daughter to Mortis in order to prevent them from tearing everything apart. But now that Ahsoka has some of Daughter's light, does that make her the light of the galaxy?
I think I'm starting to get what Lucas's point is re balance. Too much dark means there's evil. The light, as represented by Daughter, is "good" but she is also passive and aloof. Too much light then could mean apathy, even weakness.
Sam Witwer as Son has been doing an amazing job. He manages to bring elements of every bad guy we've seen so far in Star Wars into his part as Son.
This arc has exemplified the benefits of bringing aboard ILM staffer Joel Aron this season. Several shots look just as good as anything in the actual films.
There has been some grumbling about the fantastical elements or the references to other movies. The episode guide on starwars.com flat out says the visual references to LOTR were intentional. I guess we're so used to seeing Star Wars influence other people we forget that influences can run both ways.
Next week: Anakin is shown spoilers from ROTS and fails to heed them.