The Clone Wars is back! The show that was cancelled after 5 and a half seasons returns on Disney + to get the ending it deserved. I was a huge fan of the show, so safe to say I’m thrilled that we finally get to see these episodes.
After really enjoying writing my episode reviews for The Mandalorian and Resistance, I couldn’t wait to do the same again for this final season of The Clone Wars. The reviews will take on the same format: an overview of the plot (so be aware, there will be spoilers!), my review of the show, then a few “Moments in canon” – references that link to other media and the galaxy as a whole.
I have been looking forward to this show so much, so there was no way that I wasn’t going to watch this as soon as I could. Unfortunately, living in the UK, Disney+ is still not available here for a few days, so I’ve had to channel my inner Hondo Ohnaka to see this! Today, we’ll be looking at the beginning of the Ahsoka’s Walkabout arc, Episode 5: “Gone With the Trace”
Plot Summary
Ahsoka is riding a speeder bike through the Coruscant Works district and down an undrworld portal, when her speeder bike malfunctions, leading to her crashing on a platform on level 1313. He crash is seen by a nearby girl, who comes over and introduces herself as Trace Martez. The bike is badly damaged but Trace is impressed by Ahsoka’s mechanical knowledge when discussing the bike’s issues. Trace is a mechanic in a repair shop and offers to fix the speeder bike for a price, however Ahsoka prefers to fix the bike herself. Trace says that there is space in the repair shop but the use of tools will still have a cost, before taking pity on her when she explains she is short of credits.
Trace invites Ahsoka into the repair shop and sets her up in a space to repair the speeder bike while explaining that on the lower levels, everything will have a price. Ahsoka asks to buy a sparker as the speeder bike needs a new one, but the only ones Trace has are not for sale as they are being used in her own project, a Nebula-class freighter that she is modifying. Ahsoka is keen to leave Coruscant, and Trace helps fix the bike for free as it is clear Ahsoka does not want to be there. The pair begin to get to know each other, though Ahsoka hides her identity as a former Jedi padawan. Trace feels that Ahsoka is better off on the lower levels, away from the Jedi, who trace says are waging a war and forgetting about the people. Trace explains that she is trying to fix up the freighter so that she and her sister, Rafa, can get away from the Jedi and the Clone Wars and make their living in the stars.
“On second thought, some help would be great!”
Their talk is interrupted by a gangster called Pintu and 2 thugs, who have come looking for Rafa, who owes him money. As Rafa is not there, Pintu demands Trace repay the debts. Ahsoka looks to get involved but Trace stops her, before starting a fight with the thugs, who overpower her, eventually forcing her to ask Ahsoka for help. Ahsoka easily beats the thugs and the pair retreat with Pintu. Ahsoka and Trace go to find Rafa to warn her that Pintu is looking for her.
They find Rafa in the laundromat she owns, where she is trying to steal from her customers’ washing. Rafa says that she has a job lined up that will pay off her debts to Pintu, though she skirts around Trace’s questioning of how legal the job is. A Twi’lek arrives needing 3 droids to be built. His business partner has brokered a deal with Rafa. Rafa gets the Twi’lek to bring the droids round the back and convinces Trace to build the droids for her.
“I’ve had my fair share of run-ins with droids.”
Ahsoka chooses to help Trace put together the 3 droids, supposed to be binary load lifters. As they work, they talk about the nature of droids and Ahsoka’s history. Ahsoka turns on one of the droids, which goes rogue and attacks her, however she is able to disable it using the restraining bolt. Ahsoka explains to Trace that Type 2 load lifters were a scam and actually repurposed demolition droids. One of the other droids activates before Trace can attach the restraining bolt and it escapes into the street.
As the droid makes its way through the streets, causing destruction, Ahsoka and Trace chase after it, first on foot and then in a speeder. They eventually use the speeder to catch it, but it is too powerful and begins to climb the nearby building. For safety, they detach the speeder from the droid, but Trace jumps onto it as it climbs the building, eventually managing to press the button required to deactivate the droid. The droid’s weight causes it to fall, but Ahsoka grabs it (and by extension, Trace) with the speeder. The weight causes the speeder to start tipping off the edge. Ashoka tries using a grappling cable and winch to pull them to safety, but the combined weight of the droid, Trace and the speeder is too much for the winch’s motor, causing Ahsoka to use the Force to pull them to safety – though only a child sees her doing this.
“They could hurt someone!”
“Honestly, not my problem.”
Back at Rafa’s garage, Rafa refuses to dismantle the droids as she has made a deal, despite Ahsoka pointing out how dangerous they are. Rafa counters that the danger was only due to the lack of a restraining bolt. Rafa promises to Trace that she will do the right thing.
Ahsoka and Trace go to a food court, where Trace explains that she knows that Rafa is trying to make things better fr them. Rafa arrives and says that she managed to charge the Twi’lek double. Trace is initially unhappy, but Rafa explains that not only did she pay off Pintu, but she also bought Trace some new tools. Ahsoka goes to repair her speeder and Trace joins her.
Review
So this was probably my least favourite episode so far, but it was far from a bad episode. It was very clear that this was a part 1 of an arc, with a lot of set-up for the new characters while also making clear that we see where Ahsoka is both physically and mentally following leaving the Jedi Order.
“Don’t take too long. Time is money.”
The Martez sisters feel like good characters and I almost immediately found myself liking Trace due to her kind and helpful personality, while I still remain somewhat on the face about Rafa. It does feel that they are somewhat following the classic trope f 2 siblings, where the younger one is the likeable one, while the older one puts them in danger with their schemes in an attempt to provide for the pair. I imagine that as this arc continues, we will see Rafa’s schemes getting them in even more serious danger, but her becoming a better person off the back of it. I really like the interplay between Trace and Ahsoka and I look forward to seeing how that develops through the arc, as this arc was originally planned to feature a male named Nyx Okami (who was going to be a romantic interest for her) in place of the sisters, so I look forward to seeing if Trace becomes that romantic option or if they are left to just be good friends – personally I have no issue either way and think that anyone who does needs to check their priorities! What I do find interesting is how long Ahsoka will be able to keep her identity as a former padawan secret from Trace, and how Trace will react upon finding out.
“Rafa? Does that belong to you?”
“Not yet.”
I liked how Ahsoka was set up this episode. She still feels very similar to before, but it is clear that she is not quite sure how she currently fits into the world, which can be seen when she hesitates as she starts defending the Jedi and also with her looking back up the portal. I initially thought that the scene f her beating up the thugs was unnecessarily comical, until I watched again and realised that it is just highlighting the difference between these thugs who are glorified brawlers and Ahsoka, who is a trained fighter that spent the last few years fighting on the front line. I also really loved some of Ahsoka’s comments relating to her previous life, saying that her “brother” (Anakin) taught her to fight and that she’s had her fair share of run-ins with droids, neither of which is really a lie, but does not give anything of her past away.
Before I close off, I also just want to take a moment to praise Kevin Kiner’s use of the Force Theme through this episode, it really felt appropriate in its use and I could imagine John Williams using it in a similar way, having it subtly play while Ahsoka and Trace discussed the Jedi, while having it play while Ahsoka looked up the portal felt very similar to Luke Skywalker and the binary sunset. Finally, the crescendo of the Force Theme as Ahoska finally uses the Force to save Trace was a brilliant pay-off after the build-up throughout the episode.
I can’t wait to see where this goes over the coming weeks!
“Hey, what did I teach you? We can’t count on anyone—”
“So we count on ourselves. I know.”
A few final thoughts on the episode:
- Once again, I have to give some credit to the animation, it was great actually being able to see the bruising on Trace’s face after the fight with the thugs
- After a relatively heavy first arc and with the Siege of Mandalore arc set to be heavy, it was nice to get a lighter episode so that we don’t burn out over the next few weeks
- I liked the use of the opening narration to remind us of the events of Ahsoka’s last episodes considering how long it’s been, but I was not ready to put myself though that trauma!
Moments in Canon
- When asked where she learned to fight, Ahsoka refers to Anakin as her brother, a sentiment echoed in the novel Ahsoka
- There is an anti-Jedi feeling in the lower levels of Coruscant
What did you think of the episode?
Thanks for reading. May the Force be with you.
The Canon Padawan 