Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 4 "Carnage of Krell"

And so we reach the conclusion of the 4-part Umbara arc, which has been terrific in terms of action and animation. More of the same? Read on to find out!

This episode starts with Krell scrapping court-marshaling Fives & Jesse, instead demanding their imediate execution. I really like this scene that kicks off the episode, it is a really powerful scene, and makes you wonder if Fives and Jesse really are about to be executed. An interesting point in the episode is that Jesse loses his sense of humour at this moment, and his humour was limitless before. I love how all of the execution squad pretend to execute them, but deliberately miss. Rex tells Dogma they are doing the right thing, leaving Dogma furious. I also really like Fives's speech to the execution squad just before they prepare to execute him. Rex tells Dogma that if clones die for heroic actions, they would all die. Rex's dialogue between himself and Krell is priceless afterwards.
"You are making a mistake crossing  me, Clone."
"It's captain, sir."

Another scene I really liked was when Tup introduced Dogma to a Vixus, the same creature that tried to eat Hardcase in the first of this arc. The Vixus later appears in this episode, in a very dramatic moment.

This episode had something that the previous three of the arc did not have, heaps of powerful emotion, and this scene brought me close to tears. Krell tricks Rex and his men into believing Umbarans have stolen Clone weapons and armour, and could well surprise attack them as clones. When the 501st is ambushed by 212th clones, the 501st fight back believing they are Umbarans. However, during the fight, Rex notices a dead body with the helmet half off. Rex pulls the helmet fully off, to discover to his horror it is a Clone face, not Umbaran, and that they have been killing their brothers. Rex races through the full-scale battle, and makes both the 501st and 212th realize what they are doing. This scene is really dramatic and powerful in emotion, because when you think about it, as clones, shooting each other is like killing themselves...

And if that previous scene almost had me in tears, this scene REALLY almost did. Another powerful emotional scene, in what is by far the most emotional episode of the series, and I can't see that being beaten. The leader of the 212th squad, who is dying, turns out to be none other than Waxer. A dying Waxer reveals to Rex that it was Krell who gave the order to attack the 501st, and Krell had told Waxer that the 501st were really Umbarans. Waxer's last words were so emotional "He sent us to these coordinates to stop the enemy. We thought they were wearing our armour. But, it was... you..." Waxer dies as a tear rolls down his cheek. R.I.P Waxer, you're banter with Boil will truly be missed. This was actually really uneccessary, as they could have just created any platoon leader instead of Waxer. But, the reason it was Waxer, was to add lots of emotion to the scene and they truly succeeded on that part. PS: Rumour has it that after watching the Umbara arc for himself, the voice-actor for the clones (Dee Bradley Baker) got all emotional about these episodes, so the writers and all must have done an excellent job.

Rex decides enough is enough and decides to arrest Krell for treason. I love the expression's on the clones at that part, especially on Tup. If looks could kill, Krell would probably be dead already. Now, this scene with the clones advancing upon the tower Krell is in has a massive effect on me, as it was so reminiscent of the last Harry Potter film, and the scene was executed very similarly, and I loved it. Dogma decides to drop out of the arrest, feeling it is against his protocol. My favourite moment of this episode? Has to go to when all of the clones surround Krell and order him to surrender. Krell says "It's treason then." This is the kind of reference in the series that I don't mind and is executed so well, because this is in itself a Star Wars reference, and not some refernce to something else. I like how Rex tells Krell he is outnumbered, before Krell simply pushes all the clones out of the way before taking out his lightsabers, saying "You dare to attack a Jedi?!" Now THIS is what I've been waiting all this arc for, Krell taking out his double-bladed lightsabers and dueling like the bad*** that he is. This scene reminds me so much of Grievous attacking clones in the mini-series in Palpatine's office, the marks left by Krell's lightsabers on the clones just one similarity. The one part of this episode I hated Krell in, and probably the only time of the arc, is when he says "I will not be undermined by creatures bred in some labratory!"

Dogma confronts Rex and the other clones after Krell escapes. Tup advises Dogma not to do it by shooting them, Dogma lowers his weapon before being brought to the brig. I was really creeped out when Krell's voice started echoing out as Rex and the clones searched for Krell. It was really creepy, especially as you didn't know where Krell was. Krell tells Rex he should have listened to Fives, and that Krell was using Rex. The scene where Tup puts himself in danger was interesting, and I was like "No, Tup! Don't sacrifice yourself!" but Tup lured Krell into a trap with the Vixus from earlier in this episode. Krell managed to get away from the Vixus, but Tup knocked Krell out by stunning him. Tup's excited line of "I stunned him, sir!" was pretty uneccessary, but whatever.

Now we come to one of the more darker moments of the series, and the end of a awesome villain. Krell is put in the brig, and Rex angrily asks Krell about what Krell did. Krell tells Rex that he fell for it and was inferior, Krell tells Rex a new power is rising, and the Jedi will lose this war from the inside, and he will rule the new order (Krell is right all but the last part). Krell tells Rex that he serves no one, just himself. Krell also tells Rex he will be an agent of Dooku. Dogma confronts Krell, asking Krell how could he do this, as he had Dogma's trust, and loyalty.  Krell tells Dogma he was the biggest fool of all the clones. With an Umbaran attack imminent, Rex, Jesse, Fives and Tup decide Krell cannot be allowed to live. They head back to the brig, and Rex prepares to execute Krell. Krell is so unconcerned by Rex's orders of getting against the wall, and going on his knees, as he feels Rex doesn't have the guts to kill him. Krell mocks Rex, telling Rex he is in a position of power now, and asking Rex how it feels. In one of the more dramatic turn-arounds of the series, Rex is unable to shoot Krell, but Krell still gets shot in the back of the heart anyway, and Krell dies. It is revealed that Dogma is the one who shot Krell, which surprised me. But in the end, it makes sense, Dogma had been loyal to Krell, when that was scoffed by Krell, Dogma wanted revenge and got it. The episode ends with the Republic having taken Umbara. NOTE that no Umbarans actually appeared in this episode though. Hmmm... (not counting the two in prison).

My verdict: This was at the very least one of the best episodes of the series, if not the best! Krell's lightsaber fighting was great to see, and this was an episode packed with great emotion, action and animation, and may Waxer rest in peace. Rating: 10/10

PS: Hopefully that doesn't stop Waxer getting a phase II Hasbro figure!

Next-up: The "slavers arc! A colony vanishes. Anakin's personal issues come back to haunt him, as Slavery returns to the Republic, and Ahsoka & Anakin return!

And check out a preview for the next episode here!