TCW S4 #17 - The Box - 02/03/2012

[cbspock]

I just watched the episode again. I liked it even better the second time. I wouldn't scratch this episode as a "wasted" episode in the story arc. People had the same complaint for the Krell arc. I went back and watched all 4 episodes in one sitting, and watched it like a movie. All the pieces flowed into one another, and I liked the story even better when viewed that way. I will save judgement as to this episodes place in the arc once we see all 4 parts, and can watch them all together. I think of these mega arc stories like watching a movie broken up to pieces. It would be like watching Empire Strikes Back and only watching the Dagobah section, and thinking it was a total waste of time.


-Chris

[OnTheAir]

*sigh* I'm torn. It's not that I disliked this episode, per say. I just found it to be a bit of a letdown as a follow-up to "Friends And Enemies," which was instantly one of my favorite Clone Wars episodes.

I did find "The Box" to be somewhat enjoyable...still, much of it didn't quite click for me. The story felt a little too familiar...I've seen this situation played out in other animated series before. Not that GL, Filoni and the writers can't draw inspiration from other sources...they often do, and that's fine. I'm just saying that this particular story didn't work for me within the context of the overall Star Wars saga. It just didn't feel like Star Wars to me.

Maybe if this was a stand-alone episode, and not part of this arc, I would have been a bit more accepting.

With that said, I really enjoyed seeing the different bounty hunters. That, and the fact that this was another episode featuring Cad Bane, Obi Wan (albeit disguised) and Embo (three of my personal favorites), leads me to give this episode a slight thumbs up...but I can't do it with any enthusiasm.

[EthorTheHunter]

*sigh* I'm torn. It's not that I disliked this episode, per say. I just found it to be a bit of a letdown as a follow-up to "Friends And Enemies," which was instantly one of my favorite Clone Wars episodes.

I did find "The Box" to be somewhat enjoyable...still, much of it didn't quite click for me. The story felt a little too familiar...I've seen this situation played out in other animated series before. Not that GL, Filoni and the writers can't draw inspiration from other sources...they often do, and that's fine. I'm just saying that this particular story didn't work for me within the context of the overall Star Wars saga. It just didn't feel like Star Wars to me.

Maybe if this was a stand-alone episode, and not part of this arc, I would have been a bit more accepting.

With that said, I really enjoyed seeing the different bounty hunters. That, and the fact that this was another episode featuring Cad Bane, Obi Wan (albeit disguised) and Embo (three of my personal favorites), leads me to give this episode a slight thumbs up...but I can't do it with any enthusiasm.

I am going to try to persuade you on this one. It fits in the Star Wars universe well. Look at the Character of Dooku. He likes to test people as seen in Episode II were he casually throws Anakin, Obi-wan and Padme into the Geonosian Pit. He takes pleasure in watching people struggle with great challenges (oh how Qui Gons training must have been) We also got to see bounty hunters traits in this. Although they may have been working together in the box, Maralo wanted them all dead. He was trying to WEED OUT all his fiercest competition so that he could get rich when it was all done, No competition on those high level bounties if there is nobody left to take them. We see big character development for Cad Bane when he save Obi's life. Unexpected and this leads for great consequences once he finds out that OBI is actually alive and was this bounty hunter that he may have been planing to work with more. There was no villain of the week, no abrupt random story, all the characters were likable.
The only thing you can possibly harp on is that it was a little unoriginal. Ok its tough to be Original nowadays. I supposed they could have just played the next episode and had Dooku say, "We have tested the best bounty hunters and these have come out on top. Your mission is...." and we would have gotten another Clone wars episode with the same faces that we see every time keeping the galaxy nice and small.
These words are not to offend you, they're just to defend another great episode.

I must agree with Eric.
The episode was ok, but it was kinda pointless in the story arc.
So far, 4 part arcs have been fun, but i feel they have been pointlessly extended.

Oh, and to me the general idea immediately threw me out of the story. These are Bounty Hunters, usually selfish, greedy characters. Their job is about risk management and pay-offs. They will only engage on mission or hunts if it's worth it. No because of ethics, beliefs, or kindness. They work towards benefits.
And in this context, i just cannot imagine why a bounty hunter would agree to compete to the DEATH against the best in the galaxy for the "chance" to get an assignment.
To me, Bounty-Hunters are a lot more driven by survival then by ego, and so i feel it is very uncharacteristic for mercenaries to accept to engage in such a pointless exercise just to prove themselves to Dooku.
I wish we would at least seen 1 or 2 guys turn back and say "forget it" when Dooku explained the contest (to be then executed by Dooku, of course).

And for your post I bring you back to my Maralo Eval argument. Maralo wanted to take out the competition and this was a very easy way.
The rest of them were in it to win GREAT honor and respect among the CIS. What happens whett he bounty hunters succeed in killing the chancellor and everything swings in the favor of CIS. Dooku now could presumably take leadership of the Galaxy and what does that mean for the guys that worked as his elite squad? Well they are in favor of Dooku. The long term gains of this mission would be so great that you would not be serious as a bounty hunter to decline.

[Dangrievous]

I loved "The Box"! It was such a great homage to Canadian Sci-fi Horror Movie "The Cube"!

Moralo Eval RULED!

[Dangrievous]

I personally enjoyed it a lot! It is the best so far and probably stay the best episode of this arc. It is basically a lighter homage to the canadian sci-fi horror "The Cube"!
What this episode was meant to do, it did perfectly - it is a to

urnament episode to showcase the epicness of some characters.
Bane's hat fettish was so fun to watch in the begining where he shot the poor Ithorian brother.
The Box's design was pretty epic. The challenges were really fun, especially seeing Obi and Bane work together and help each other.
I knew most retextured old models will die but was shocked that Twazzi lived...
This episode is just perfect for a SW video game.
Now let me tell you what REALLY sold the episode to me and it speaks in the third person - Moralo Eval.
I rewatched the last fight scene between him and Kenobi over 30 times - it was that good according. The lighting, the setting of fires bursting all around, the fact how a giant monitor shows Dooku observing them and the amazing music! All these elements combined produced a very poetic and awesome fight scene that for me is one of the best scenes in this season!
And another thing that I loved in that scene was that it felt like a NES boss battle or a boss battle from my favorite PS game - "Ratchet and Clank". Actually, the entire episode had that feel of a "Ratchet and Clank" game - solving puzzles in a futuristic space setting.
The fact they had so little Anakin and even withheld another scene with him made me happy.
And the cherry on top that made this episode even more awesome was the promise of Separatist prisoners. That made me now want too see the next episode and that is also a sign for a good episode - it is good on its own and it makes you want to see the rest of the arc. Like in the old of Season One!
Cause there have been episodes this season that made me NOT want to see the conclusion of an arc like most of the Umbaran episodes and "Slaves of the Republic" did.

[darthblu3]

I too thoroughly enjoyed this episode. It was great to see the bounty hunters fight to survive and to jockey for position to come out on top. I thought the episode was creative, with the different trials the BH's had to overcome. It was suspenseful, because you never knew who was going to make it, and some characters died. Some of the BH's who I was cheering for and was hoping would make it - didn't make it. This brought in a sense of danger and suspense that sometimes isn't present in the Clone Wars (because we know our main characters won't die).
I like how Obi Wan is constantly having to still stick to his ideals as a Jedi, but at the same time live up to the reputation as a ****** bounty hunter, so as to not giveaway his undercover status. However, I think Dooku is starting to realize something isn't right with this new guy.
I get the impression that not only is Dooku planning on kidnapping Palpatine, but also if the opportunity arises to kill Sidious, he would do so.
As for those who say this episode doesn't fit into the story arc, I think it's too early to say that it doesn't (unless you've already seen the last episode in the arc) fit. I can already think of a couple of reasons as to why this episode is needed in the arc. One is that Obi wan has gained the respect and or trust of not only Cad Bane (after two episodes of Bane not respecting him), but also the respect of the other BH's who survived. Two - I think the inclusion of Embo in the episode is not accidental and he will somehow play into the final act. Three - the conflict that has developed between disguised Obi Wan and Moralo Eval. In the first two episodes, Eval respected Obi Wan and put in good words for him. Now, after this episode, I would say that there is resentment or even hatred for disguised Obi Wan. These three points were developed throughout this episode, and could end up affecting the overall story arc, thus making this episode an important part of the arc. But of course, back to my original point - we don't know yet because the fourth episode of the arc hasn't aired yet.
Personally, I like the four part arcs, as they allow for more story and character development that end up enriching the overall story AND series for the benefit of the audience (us). I say keep on making the three and four part arcs, with the occasional one-off episode thrown in for good measure.

[darthblu3]

And another thing....I'm curious to see how Anakin reacts to Yoda's counsel. I thought it was interesting that it paralleled the same counsel that Yoda gave Luke on Dagobah from EP 5. We all know how Luke disregarded Yoda and left to go save his friends and how that turned out. I'm wondering if Anakin will do the same as Luke will do (did) and what consequences will come of it. Also, if Anakin does run off to save his friend (OWK), this could help explain why Yoda was so hesitant to train Luke in the first place. It would also put that much more weight on Luke's decision, as we would have a similar past experience to compare it to.
It was such a short scene, but I think it will have a deeper impact to the SAGA as a whole than we think.

[Darth_Engelhast]

Where the San Hill is the damn roundtable for the last two episodes????

[cbspock]

I think they are combining them. They are so far behind..lol


-Chris

[Darth_Engelhast]

I think they are combining them. They are so far behind..lol


-Chris

I hate it when they try to cram more than one episode into a round table. They almost never have time to touch on everything and the earlier of the two episodes seems to get the short end of the stick.

Where they heck is the damn Darth Plagueis round table they pushed off The Clone Wars Round Table to record two frakin' weeks ago?!?