7.5/10
This episode dragged for much for the first two acts. The impulsive jedi knight and the calmer Jedi master is a well this show has already gone to often in its young life. But the impulsiveness actually getting a jedi killed, even one we've just met, gives it a little more weight. I did appreciate Kit Fisto in the episode (whose voice was a little too close to that of Hermes Conrad), and his fight with Grievous was claustrophobic in just the right way. Kudos to the director of the episode for the way that fight was framed, which really heightened the intensity of it. I also appreciated that we got to know a little more about Grievous and his backstory, which is what piqued my interest after a bit of a dull first half, and the sarcastic doctor bot added some flavor as well. The final scene put a little too obvious of a button on the episode's message, but it is a kid's show after all, so I can't fault it too much.
Who is General Grievous? This is a question that is never fully answered outside of Expanded Universe material (both in Legends and Canon) and while Lair of Grievous doesn't give us full answers it dangles them enticingly in front of us. While Kit Fisto and Nahdar Vebb are our focus characters here, Grievous is the lead of the episode, the one with the arc and being tested by his master. Seeing how he operates is both fascinating and strangely compelling, and his philosophy into hunting Jedi is explored as more of an instinctual need to hunt rather then something he does cause he's told. This is a sport to him, a game to him.
And the horror elements of this episode are what really drive this one into "top tier" status for me. From the way the characters are getting picked off one by one to the foreboding, oppressive atmosphere, this is a strong, strong episode in that regard and features some of the best animation of the series to date. Most of the dark stuff is implied, but it works so much better then just showing it, and seeing Fisto get out with barely his life does a better showcase of Grievous abilities then anything else.
Good battles with Grievous, but seems out of place.
It's weird how technically similar in temperament Master Fisto and Obi Wan are given that Fisto never comes off as a hardass in the way Obi Wan does. I guess it's because Obi Wan is always in opposition to anakin who always ends up being right in his recklessness and emotion where Nahdar was very clearly wrong here
Although I prefer the Jedi over the Sith, I have to say Grievous is great.
Shout by RosieBlockedParent2018-01-03T02:20:44Z
Really great episode, Grievous on all 4s is absolutely terrifying