The Clone Wars first watch: The Hidden Enemy

Star Wars: The Clone Wars ‘The Hidden Enemy’ reveals a dark side to the clones as their individuality shines through.

As I go through Star Wars: The Clone Wars chronologically, the next episode on the list is from Season 1, Episode 16 ‘The Hidden Enemy.’

What’s interesting is how early this episode comes in chronological order — it’s the second — and that it’s also a Season 1 episode. There is a lot to unpack here and most of it is about the clones.

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• The Clone Wars saved Padmé Amidala
• Theory: Is Peridea actually the planet of Mortis?

While many Star Wars fans will think of Anakin, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Padme when considering the prequel eras, the clones play an integral part. What’s interesting about ‘The Hidden Enemy’ is that it literally puts names to face. We learn the clones aren’t mindless husks following orders, but instead are individuals.

Despite having the same face, their hair is different, they have unique facial hair, and each have unique names so that even though you are looking at a familiar face, the clones each feel like individuals.

While Anakin and Obi-Wan Kenobi are trying to hold off a Separatist siege on Christophsis, Rex and Cody learn there is a traitor in their ranks. They grill a specific unit until the traitor is eventually exposed.

It turns out Slick is the spy. He had been revealing information to Asajj Ventress to help turn the tide of the battle toward the Separatist.

As much as brotherhood and family is thrown about within the clones, Slick’s reasoning as to why he betrayed his fellow clones is about freedom. He yells at Rex and Cody the Jedi are keeping his brothers enslaved and he was doing this for something more.

However, his fellow clones note that instead of giving them freedom all Slick was put their lives in danger since a platoon of battle droids are now on their way and they don’t have much to defend themselves because Slick blew up the weapons depot.

This episode shows a lot about the clones. The vast majority of them are loyal. However, the clones were created in a lab. So then what rights do the clone have? Are they allowed to leave the army if they don’t want to fight? Are they actually property in the sense that droids are?

It brings up a lot of moral questions. The clones are human. They are sentient beings. Just because they were made in a laboratory doesn’t mean it should take away from their autonomy and their rights.

That’s probably what Slick was trying to say, he just went about it so wrong.

The creators went to a lot of work to show the clones as individuals, which means they should have the right to make their own choices on how they want to live their life.

Next up: The Clone Wars movie. I’ve never watched the movie, so this will be new for me.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars is currently streaming on Disney+. Season 7 premieres on February 21.