1x11 Dooku Captured

8.3/10

A couple of things elevated this episode. For one thing, it was nice to see Obi Wan and Anakin having some big brother-like adventures together. The prequel trilogy never did a great job of showing how they were friends or had bonded or much of anything really to make their eventual falling out more meaningful. This episode managed to show how they could have a somewhat-contentious but still friendly vibe between the two of them that feels like we're watching a pair of old buddies instead of the solemn teacher and petulant pupil.

It was also interesting to see Dooku in a position where he didn't have the upper hand. Watching him negotiate with the pirates and keep his true identity close to the vest was an interesting twist on a character who's mostly been little more than a pontificating big bad who pulls strings from afar. To the same end, I liked the pirates, both because they were a group of baddies who had little interest in the Republic/Separatist war, but also because they had a certain amount of the rowdy outlaw feel that's been lacking in these Outer Rim stories. Groups like that coming into play help round out the Star Wars universe and make it feel bigger and more lived-in.

Great setup here. Having a solo Anakin and Obi-Wan story is really great, especially as Ahsoka is out of the picture for the moment, and this allows for the banter to be the focus here. The comraderie and friendship these two have together is frequently one of the strongest things about this show and while they are mostly, admittedly, stuck in a cave for most of this their interactions keep things light, fun, and interesting. Their eventual final scene together here works as one of the best moments of the first season as well, showcasing their resourcefulness and intelligence while also landing a stellar comedic beat in the process.

Dooku's side of the story isn't as interesting, but it does setup the next episode very well and introduces a personal favourite character of mine in Hondo Ohnaka, the cunning yet strangely honorable pirate. He's much funnier then expected in his first ever appearance and much of this has to do with Jim Cummings incredible vocal performance as the character, who is just killing it here. Plus it helps that he's not an idiot here - his capture of Dooku and eventual ransom request is actually very well thought out, which makes him a genuine threat going forward.