THE CLONE WARS “Overlords” (Season 3 Episode 15) – Star Wars: The Clone Wars started off a new 3 episode arc with “Overlords” which has Anakin, Obi-Wan and Ahsoka responding to an unusual distress call which lands them on a mysterious planet, Mortis. Without too much action and a whole lot of interesting dialogue, this first episode of the arc laid heavily into the prophecy of “The Chosen One” and Anakin’s inevitable fate.
The episode starts off feeling a little less like your standard Clone Wars plot and actually little bit more like an old episode of Star Trek with our protagonists encountering unknown enemies on an unknown planet with beautiful plant life, massive rock formations and hourly seasons. The Star Wars feeling returns though as Obi-Wan and Anakin realize the planet itself is surging with the Force and the planet’s 3 inhabitants, Father, Daughter and Son, show an unusual interest in Anakin’s destiny.
From the beginning, it’s not totally clear if this planet is actually a planet or possibly an alternate dimension, a Force projection from within the last thing that Anakin, Obi-Wan and Ahsoka saw from the outside – the big black block hovering in space. While on this planet, Anakin, Obi-Wan and Ahsoka each experience personal visions. Pernilla August returns to voice her role as Anakin’s mother, Shmi Skywalker, in his vision which feeds on Anakin’s overwhelming guilt and the heaviness of his obsessive fear that taints his love for his wife. It turns out this vision was the work of the Son on the planet and Anakin heads to the Father for answers.
Meanwhile, Obi-Wan and Ahsoka are experiencing their own visions although it seems as though these visions are more likely manifestations of the force rather than a direct manipulation by the planet’s inhabitants. Liam Neeson reprises his role as Qui-Gon Jinn in the form of a vision giving Obi-Wan some much needed guidance. I’m sure I’m not alone when I say that I hope this won’t be his last cameo for The Clone Wars. Ahsoka’s vision of her potential self similarly attempts to offer guidance and warns her of the danger that will ultimately find her should she continue on this path.
This episode of the Clone Wars sets up an interesting scenario whereby the Father suggests that Anakin will bring balance to the force as prophesized within the containment of their self-imposed prison. The Father suggests that this is the place where he is meant to control the light and the dark side and keep them in perfect balance. We all know that ultimately Anakin fulfills the prophecy in a different, darker way, so I’m interested to see what becomes of this situation and what the ramifications are for Anakin choosing not to stay and control the Force wielders as he’s been asked to.
Judging by the previews for next week, it’s difficult to gauge what exactly will happen next. It’s entirely possible that everything is a farce, an intricate hallucination, a trap utilizing the prophesy that looms in the back of their minds and set by some yet unseen enemy, but I hope that’s not where we go with it. There is potential to really get into Anakin’s head here and I think it makes it more interesting if there is a real weight and consequence to the choices he makes here rather than something as easy to dismiss as a dream. We’ll have to wait till next week to find out.
Please make sure to read our comment policy before posting a comment.