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The Clone Wars: 4 shockingly dark episodes aimed towards adults

By Jordan Bhanji

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 24: Captain Rex from Star Wars : The Clone Wars arrives at the 8th annual ASTRA Awards at the State Theatre on June 24, 2010 in Sydney, Australia. The awards, named after the Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association, recognise achievements in the Australian subscription television industry. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 24: Captain Rex from Star Wars : The Clone Wars arrives at the 8th annual ASTRA Awards at the State Theatre on June 24, 2010 in Sydney, Australia. The awards, named after the Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association, recognise achievements in the Australian subscription television industry. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images) /
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The 15th episode of the initial season of Clone Wars shifted away from the macro conflict of galactic warfare and towards a much smaller and nuanced, yet extremely violent conflict.

The episode tracks Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Rex as they escort a Pantoran envoy to a nearby moon to investigate the disappearance of Republic forces. The discover the previously thought to be uninhabited ice-moon to be occupied by a primitive yet intelligent Talz that wish to be left in peace. The Chairman declares the species as trespassers and declares war on the Talz, foolishly in the name of the Pantoran people.

“Trespassing” is a grim episode that deals with incredibly mature themes including misplaced nationalism, and an intended genocide of a sentient race. The dialogue in this episode perfectly illustrates the contrast of the peacekeeping Jedi and the destructiveness of the nationalism and greed of the Pantoran Chairman. The language of the Chairman refers to the Talz people as “savages” and “animals.” This kind of abhorrent rhetoric is meant to justify the genocide of an intelligent race and predicates an extremely violent episode.

The plot also dives heavily into loyalty and the best manner in which to display that said loyalty. When the shy and inexperienced senator from Pantora wishes for and ultimately negotiates peace, the chairman misguidedly questions her allegiance to her people.

An episode revolving around, ethnic cleansing, nationalism, and loyalty in a time of war makes this episode extremely compelling and one of the darkest episodes of the entire series.

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