Order 66 Shattered Ashoka and Shattered Us
Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 7, Episode 11
From the moment The Clone Wars started, we knew this moment was coming. With three words, Darth Sidious almost wiped out the Jedi Order: “Execute Order 66.” Now fresh off the heels of its best episode, we get the saddest moment in Star Wars history.
I could not keep my eyes from getting misty, and neither could most fans, it seems. An entire generation remembers the collective horror of seeing Order 66 on the big screen, and “Shattered” reopens that old wound anew.
From the start, the episode is fraught with tension. We know what’s coming, but can’t stop it. Not when we see the Council talking about Palpatine. Not when we hear what’s happening to Anakin. And not when we see Rex turn his blasters on Ashoka.
Seeing Rex being forced to turn on Ashoka reinforces the tragic genius behind The Clone Wars for me. Before this show, the Clones were just one of a million faceless soldiers. As we watched them fight and grow, alongside the Jedi, though, they became human. Which only makes seeing Order 66 even more heart wrenching than the first time around. They were pawns of Darth Sidious, pieces in a game that only he knew was being played!
Thankfully, Ashoka is able to remove the inhibitor chip in Rex and snap him out of it, but that’s of little comfort. We know there are thousands of Clones who will come out of a trance and realize “what have I done?” Any surviving Jedi will be left with feelings of betrayal. That’s the tragedy of Star Wars. And The Clone Wars plays it for all its worth.
It’s hard to follow up on a show’s best episode, but “Shattered” more than does so. It’s not grand or epic, but personal and emotional.
On May the Fourth, we have the final episode of The Clone Wars. With Order 66 in full swing, we’re going to need a lot of tissues. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna go cry some more about this. #ScrewYouDarthSidious
May the Force be with you.
I Give “Shattered” a 4.8/5
Stray Observations
- “I’m sorry, citizen. These matters are for the Council to discuss.” Not even a sorry from Windu. There goes any sympathy for him
- Hearing the remix of “Anakin’s Dark Deeds” is the icing on the cake.
- Anakin’s password is 8-1-0-8. August 10th, 2008 was the day the show premiered
- Had Ashoka told the Council about what Maul said, or tried to tell Anakin, it could have stopped him from doing what he did.
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Animation, Blog Posts, General Sci-Fi, Star Wars, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, TV Shows
You know what the worst part is? The fact that the Jedi have yet to return 50 years later because Disney is dragging their heels. Rebuild the Jedi THEN do that “High Republic” stuff, people!