Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Cloak of Darkness Rewatch

January 5, 2017 2:35 PM - Season 1, Episode 9

Tasked with the job of escorting the captured Nute Gunray of the Trade Federation to Coruscant to answer for his crimes, Ahsoka Tano and Jedi Master Luminara find themselves confronted by the dangerous Asajj Ventress. Little do they know, Ventress is only half their problem.

Episode Information!

"Cloak of Darkness" is the ninth episode of Season One and thirteenth in chronological order. For more, check out the episode guide here!

Official Synopsis

"Ignore your instincts at your peril." Ahsoka and Jedi Master Luminara escort the captured notorious Separatist leader Nute Gunray to Coruscant so he can stand trial for his crimes. However, they are unaware that Count Dooku has sent his assassin, Asajj Ventress, to free their captive. With the help of Senate Commandos, the Jedi have to thwart Ventress's efforts to free their prisoner, despite the traitorous plans of Senate Guard Captain Argyus.

Trivia!

• This episodem arks the first series appearance of Senate Commandos, a new type of soldier derived from the blue-robed Senate Guards seen in the prequel trilogy. The model of the solider uses the same basic body of a clone trooper, but with a custom blue paint job, different head, and a larage scarab-like shoulder pad with the Senate seal for the captain.
• The Treadwell droid's name is another conspicuous appearance of the digits "327."
• The catwalks and clusters of cylinders that dominate the engine room are an architectural nod to the gravity control room found aboard the Super Dimensional Fortress (SDF-1) from the Macross anime (or Robotech series, if so inclined.).
• This was the third time the show used the ships utilized as podhunters, drop ships, and boarding craft in previous episodes. Internally, the ships were referenced as "juicer."

Next time on the Clone Wars!

The next episode in chronological viewing order is Season One's episode ten, "Lair of Grievous."

posted by Atreides (5 comments total)

This episode is one of my early favorites, and to me is notable for two things. First, during her interrogation of Gunray, you can readily see Anakin's influence on Ahsoka: she's impetuous and ready to use unorthodox techniques on the prisoner. Second, this episode really highlights why Luminara Unduli is my favorite Jedi ever: she's calm, cool, focused – though maybe also a bit of a know-it-all. The duel with Ventress is a good one, particularly when they force-push themselves into a stalemate. I think there's also an early indication of how brutal the show could be, when Ventress so coldly dispatches Captain Argyus.

(Speaking of whom, I would pay a bounty to a cosplayer who managed to re-create Capt Argyus's sculptured hairdo.)
posted by The Nutmeg of Consolation at 8:31 AM on January 6, 2017 [2 favorites]

Yes on all of those points!

I went into the Clone Wars rewatch thinking I would have to wait a few seasons before the show started getting a bit darker, but this episode aptly reminded me that it was always there in every season, if not in the same percentage of episodes. It's not just Ventress taking out Argyus, but also the fact that Argyus was the inside man in the whole deal, which reinforces the fact that the institution of the Republic is sick on so many levels.

I'd have to go back and check the episodes, but minus lightsaber duel by Ahsoka and Ventress which I think happens for a brief moment in the movie (if it happened, my memory is foggy at the moment), this is the first all woman lightsaber duel ever visualized on a screen, big or small.
posted by Atreides at 11:54 AM on January 6, 2017 [1 favorite]

Been awhile since I watched these, but I remember really enjoying Ventress. She was cold, she was ruthless and she owned it.

(I'm a sucker for a villain that enjoys their job. For instance, I love Palpatine despite all the cheese - dude is just so happy to come to work every day, extinguishing all light and hope in the galaxy.)
posted by mordax at 12:40 PM on January 6, 2017 [1 favorite]

Been awhile since I watched these, but I remember really enjoying Ventress. She was cold, she was ruthless and she owned it.

Ventress' arc is one of the best parts of the Clone Wars as she goes from powerful apprentice of Dooku's to callus bounty hunter toward becoming a redeemed hero. While she was introduced in the film, this episode does a fantastic job of really demonstrating how incredible she is at what she does.
posted by Atreides at 1:33 PM on January 6, 2017 [1 favorite]

There is one thing about the Luminara-Ventress duel that continues to confuse me, after several viewings. Just what part of Luminara gets trapped under that falling pipe? I can't help but think that if her leg got caught, it'd be crushed; but if only part of her robe was caught, she could fairly easily free that. It seems like a minor thing, but it's a plot point in that it gives Ahsoka the opportunity to show up and save the day.
posted by The Nutmeg of Consolation at 4:22 PM on January 6, 2017