Star Wars: The Clone Wars - "Rise of the Malevolence"

Credit to the Jedi Grand Master George where credit is due. He lives by the declaration “go big or go home.” When the Jedi Master said “let their be light” he meant “let there be light!” It is the kind of light that fries your retinas even when the blast shields are down! Frankly, it is one of those things I admire most about Star Wars. The Star Wars universe doesn’t just fly starships. They fly ships that are a kilometer plus in length (and have cool names like Executor). Star Wars weapons don’t just kill people, they blow up whole planets for crying out loud. The bad guy doesn’t just wear black, he can kill you just by looking at you! And that he can do while talking to you on that Star Wars phone thingee (take that telemarketers with your warnings about my 10-year old car warranty)! It lends authenticity to the idea that Star Wars is larger than life!

When news broke of the animated series, press releases stated each episode was a stand alone. This prompted one to remember the heady days of the eighties cartoons/commercials here every episode featured a new character (read action figure) and the episodes ended with a cheery note of how to be a good person. (Thanks a lot G.I Joe, I needed that lesson on how to properly field strip my rifle.) Thankfully that is not actually the case with this animated series, the fact that the episodes are not stand alones allow for rich story arcs filled with action and intensity.

Episodes two, three, and four, dubbed “Rise of the Malevolence,” features General Grievous’ first appearance captaining the immense warship Malevolence, a ship about the size of California and with the ability to launch a snotty glob of energy the size of the Pacific Ocean that leaves electronics lifeless and spaceships inert. Attacking unsuspecting Republic Fleets, the Malevolence makes short work of the good guys and begins its prowl through space like a great white shark scouting out seals and surfers in the Great Barrier Reef.

Grievous’ tastiest treat lies in the sweet morsel of Jedi Master Plo Koon’s (seen ever so briefly in the last trilogy and then only as either eye candy in the background or as a really bad way to crash your ship off other structures in Revenge of the Sith) fleet. Devastated, the fleet is unable to send out an emergency call and the survivors are left to the mercies of black space in escape pods.

Seeing the fleet destroyed, the wickedly cool Count Dooku informs the dear droid general there are to be no survivors. Droids are dispatched to rummage through the wreckage and take out the pods. Meanwhile, Master Koon and his escape pod-mates wait.

Article Author: Tim Girard

Tim Girard is a mental gymnyst. He thinks too much and writes too little and enjoys caffeine with his sugar. When he isn't busy saving the world he is out writing. Good thing he doesn't write too much.

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