Sunday 15 November 2009

Clone Wars: Season 1 - Episode 7, Duel of the Droids



The Clone Wars: Season 1, Episode 7, Duel of the Droids continues directly from the events of Episode 6, Downfall of a Droid. The Moral of the episode is, "You hold onto friends by keeping your heart a little softer than your head."

Missing in action, Anakin Skywalker's heroic droid navigator, R2D2, was lost in battle. When a desperate search fails to locate R2, Anakin is force to take on a new navigator, R3S6. Now the Jedi must embark on a dangerous new mission to find a secret enemy listening post. Meanwhile R2D2 has fallen into the hands of a vile droid smuggler and is on his way to General Grievous who will surely plunder the Republic's secrets hidden with him.

As the Trandoshan smuggler moves in to dock with Grievous's station, the captured R2D2 manages to hack into the ship's systems and send out a message to the Jedi. Despite more hindrance from the troublesome droid R3, Anakin receives it and is confident that the signal has come from R2. Captain Rex immediately manages to trace its location and they jump to the coordinates.

The Trandoshan has already boarded the station and under the instruction of Grievous is examining the captured R2 unit for any vital information.

Over Holo-communication, Obi-Wan Kenobi tells Anakin that this is not a rescue mission for R2. The sole purpose of the mission is to destroy the listening station. We have already seen from previous episodes that Anakin is not exactly one for following orders to the letter.

Anakin, Ahsoka, Captain Rex, R3S6 and some Clones infiltrate the station from above with the help of Anakin's lightsaber to find their way inside. As soon as they are comfortable, it becomes quickly apparent that Anakin's primary aim to rescue R2D2. He splits up from the others.

Meanwhile, the Trandoshan smuggler makes an amazing discovery concerning R2. "It appears the droid's memory has never been erased. It contains every Republic foundation and strategy they have!". He suddenly wants more money as now the droid is a lot more valuable than he'd originally thought. Grievous is quick to reward him with a green lightsaber through the torso. The Smuggler is dead.

As Ahsoka and the Clones stealthily make their way through the facility, it is revealed that R3 is working for Grievous. Not surprising, there were enough clues from the previous episode! The droid drops back from the group and sends a holo-communication to Grievous alerting him to their presence. "Delay them until I arrive," he orders. He orders his IG-100 MagnaGuards to take the R2 unit to his ship. He will deal with the Jedi himself. The alarm is sounded.

Ahsoka's team are halted in their tracks by a force-field door. She orders R3 to deactivate the shield, but of course, the contraption is in no particular hurry. As the Battledroids arrive, R3 manages to close an additional blast-door making any escape now extremely difficult. Super Battledroids approach from another corridor and it is only with the use of Electro Magnetic Pulse grenades, (which they refer to as droid poppers) that the group manage to survive.

As R2 is carried onto his ship, General Grievous suddenly arrives at the young Ahsoka's location. He taunts, "They send a child to destroy my station? The Republic must be running out of Jedi!".

Grievous leaps forward taking out a percentage of the clones. He then attacks Ahsoka. There is a brief lightsaber duel, before she realises she is outmatched and is force to make a retreat. Grievous follows.

Anakin catches up with the Magna droids who are carrying R2. "You have something that belongs to me." he says. A fight immediately ensues. From here on in, the episode is full-on action right to the end. Anakin finally takes out the deadly Magnas and is reunited with R2D2 once more.

Ahsoka is hiding from Grievous in what looks to be a store room. R3 turns up and at once gives away her location by shining a torch on her! Previously Ahsoka has instructed the Clones to set the detonation charges and to rendezvous at the Landing Bay. She knows there's a chance she may not make it, but they must complete their mission. Ahsoka has now finally worked out that R3 cannot be trusted.

Anakin and R2 make it safely to the Landing Bay as the Twilight arrives to take them away. Captain Rex, a Clone and R3 also enter, but there is no sign of Ahsoka.

Not happy that Ahsoka has risked challenging Grievous alone, Anakin attempts to rescue her. Before he can even leave the landing bay however, R3S6 closes all the doors including the main launch doors. R3 also activates a squadron of Vulture Droids. As Super Battledroids approach from the opposite end, Anakin realises that R3S6 was a spy all along.

Grievous lifts Ahsoka by the throat clear off the ground. An explosion rocks the station and the Jedi is able to break free and then escape through a vent.

As per previous episodes, when he fears things are not going quite his way, General Grievous decides to escape in his one-man ship. He does so unopposed, the Jedi currently have much bigger things to deal with in the Landing Bay.

In an attempt to open the Launch Bay doors, R2D2 is attacked by R3. Ahsoka enters the growing battle from above, exiting a vent and landing on one of the Vulture Droids.

R2 fends off R3 and manages to open the Launch Bay doors. There are lasers firing everywhere. The Twilight takes off with all aboard apart from Anakin who takes a different ship.

R2D2 sprays the relentless R3 with oil, then ignites him with his jets. Losing balance, R3 then falls off the upper gantry and off the Station completely. Anakin picks his astromech up from outside and they fly away as the Station is destroyed.

The Mission has been completed, but Obi-Wan is dismayed Anakin risked everything in order to save a single droid. Anakin sees the droid as much more.



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