David Tennant Does the Clone Wars!

George Takei voiced Lok Durd, Simon Pegg voiced Dengar, and now ex-Doctor David Tennant has been officially absorbed into the rapidly expanding Star Wars saga. He plays ancient droid lightsaber expert/archivist Huyang in the latest animated Clone Wars episode A Test of Strength which follows a bunch of sassy, wide-eyed Jedi younglings who are attempting to custom build their baby’s-first-lightsaber. You can get a taste of his performance in this preview clip here:

More than just a cameo, Huyang is present for the entire episode and there’s no doubt that Tennant manages to give him an energy and import that is necessary to make us care about another silly robot. The fact that he’s providing some previously unrevealed Jedi lore is an added bonus. Plus he totally schools those obnoxious kids!

I've been uncharacteristically tight-lipped about Clone Wars Season Five, now seven episodes in, but if you want to hear my general thoughts so far... join me after the jump!

Clone Wars Recap S4 E22: Revenge (Finale!)

Season Four of the increasingly ambitious Clone Wars has finally reached its end with the long promised return of short-lived, neatly-sliced, fan-favourite Darth Maul. At the end of last week's episode Brothers we got our first look at how insane and twisted the cobbled together Spider-Maul had become, and now this week's show aims to give us a scant 22 minutes of Maul's actual revenge on a floppy-haired Kenobi.

Will it live up to the hype? Join me after the jump where I will regale you with the truth...

Clone Wars Recap S4 E21: Brothers! The Return of Darth Maul!

Clone Wars fans have been anticipating this for over a year now, and this week, finally, the short-lived severed "star" of The Phantom Menace - Darth Maul - emerges from ten years of seclusion to scare the everliving shit out of your kids. And I'm not exaggerating. We all figured it would badass, but we didn't realise it would be a creepy fever dream into the mouth of madness. 

If you've seen shiny-crotched robot leg Maul and think you know how this is all going to pan out, then guess again. The Clone Wars miraculously team managed to keep a major secret about Darth Maul's mysterious bottom half. Join me after the jump and I'll tell you what it is...

Clone Wars Recap S4 E20: Bounty!

As we edge ever closer to next week's long-anticipated return of short-lived, severed scary-clown Darth Maul, this week's Clone Wars continues to follow the wacky misadventures of scorned Sith witch Asajj Ventriss. This week she teams up with Boba Fett, Bossk and - would you believe - bandaged, loafer-wearing deadweight Dengar, now inexplicably voiced by Simon Pegg!

Asajj is rapidly becoming the breakout character of the entire series so if you miss this one you should be publicly shamed. And probably shaved.

TEH BOYZ R BACK IN TOWN BOYZ R BACK IN TOWN YEEEAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!
(That's Boba's fashion-forward new helmet on the right).

Join me after the jump to find out why this episode rocked not one, but both of my socks...

Clone Wars Recap S4 E19: Massacre!

Clone Wars begins its epic final four-part arc for this season (the arc that will culminate in the return of a robo-crotched Maul) and holy crap was it a good one! This was one of the darkest, trippy, unforgiving episodes ever, as an invading fleet of tanks and droids got caught up in a world of creepy women and witchcraft. Bathed in blood red and acid green, this episode was seriously like Star Wars meets Suspiria. And I loved it!

Once you've watched it, join me after the jump where our jaws will drop in astonishment together!

Clone Wars Recap S4 E18: Crisis on Naboo!

After three weeks of nefarious plotting, scheming, and bullshitting to Anakin, the plot to kidnap Palpatine is finally happening! Will it succeed, thereby changing the entire course and plots of Episodes III - VI? Uh... probably not. But it's a good excuse for some animated violence.

Thanks to the painful lingering after effects of Dan Ackroyd's Crystal Head vodka this recap will probably be a lot lazier than usual. But join me after the jump and I'll see what I can do...

Clone Wars Recap S4 E17: The Box!

As part three of our current four part story begins we know that foppish lying douchebag Obi Wan Kenobi faked his own death, disguised himself as bounty hunter Rako Hardeen and is hanging out with Cad Bane. Anakin didn't know but now kinda' knows, but maybe doesn't really care. And someone's out to kill Palpatine who is probably pulling the strings anyway. Confused? Well it doesn't amount to shit because this rip-roaring episode is about cramming a whole ton of bounty hunters into a murderous box!

EMBOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Join me after the jump for more, but be forewarned that this was another great one, so if you don't want to be spoiled then I suggest you watch it first!

Clone Wars Recap S4 E16: Friends and Enemies!

After a rollicking, hand-stabbing, mass-murdering, bounty hunter filled episode last week, the Clone Wars returns with part two of the "Let's Foolishly Lie to Anakin About Obi Wan's Death" quadrilogy. And seriously, at this point just about anything could happen. Maybe Obi Wan will blind a child with a spoon.

Lock, load and join me after the jump to find out everything you need to know!

Clone Wars Recap S4 E15: Deception!

This week the Clone Wars kicks off a new four part story which continues the downward spiral into darkness and depravity. Ever wanted to see a beloved childhood hero impale a guy’s hand with a piece of cutlery? I’ve been wanting to see that for over 30 years, and Deception did not disappoint! (Unless it was a spork. That would be mildly disappointing). And did I mention that this episode is also jam-packed with some of the most notorious bounty hunters in the galaxy?

This is one of the good ones, folks, so if you have any interest then please be sure to check it out before joining me after the jump - because, seriously, I am about to spoil the shit out of it for you!

Clone Wars Recap S4 E14: A Friend in Need! MANDALORIANS PEW PEW!

Holy crap, you guys, the Mandalorians are back on the Clone Wars! And not the sissy Arian dignitary Mandalorians that talk endlessly in glass cubes and poison each other's tea. I'm talking about the badass Boba Fett T-visor helmet, jet backpack, flame-thrower wrist PEW PEW I'MMA KILL YOU Mandalorians led by Pre Visla (voiced by John Favreau).

PEW PEW PEW PEW PEW PEW!

If you're entire body is suddenly rocking violently with bloodlust and testosterone then join me after the jump!

Clone Wars Recap S4 E13: Escape from Kadavo!

Hey! What?! Clone Wars is back!? The series return kind of snuck up behind me and bludgeoned me with a... um... wamprat? When we last left Anakin and Co. before the Christmas break, they were suffering the consequences of a ridiculously stupid plan on the Planet of the Slaver Wolverines. Due to Anakin's idiotic plot and Obi Wan's uncharacteristically rash foolishness, Ahsoka was in a cage, Obi Wan was in a slave facility, and Anakin was the pet of a sexy queen. Wait... that last one doesn't sound too bad. OH! Now I understand his plan!

Okay... she's not that hot...

So the question with the new episode is: how are they going to get out of this mess? And perhaps, more importantly, how long is going to take them to erase their past mistakes? Join me after the jump to find out!

Clone Wars Recap S4 E12: Slaves of the Republic!

Angry teen Anakin and sassmouth sidekick Ahsoka return today in Slaves of the Republic, the second part of the OH NOES, SLAVERY!!1 trilogy. When we last saw our heroes, a whole colony of Togruta had been kidnapped, your maiden aunt Obi Wan Kenobi had just had the shite beaten out of him by badass Slaver Wolverine, and Anakin unleashed his frustrations on a tentacle rape beast. Will the action continue to ramp up this week? Will Anakin, haunted by his childhood as a Toydarian sex slave, totally lose his shit? What we do know in advance is that Ahsoka is rockin' a new slave outfit and now lives in a cage.

Star Wars: continuing to remind us that slavery is totally wrong. Unless it's sexy.

Let's unwrap this episode after the jump!

Clone Wars Recap S4 E11: Kidnapped!

Now that giant Muppet Jedi bastard Krell has been dispatched, it's time to embark on a brand new adventure - this time starring rockstar dude-bros Anakin and Obi Wan! Wait... whaaa!? After such a long hiatus, do we even remember who these guys are? Obi What Ken-What-Now?

A tribe of Togruta colonists are missing and the truth behind their disappearance has potential to drive Anakin Skywalker totally darkside wacky! Let's get to the bottom of this tomfoolery after the jump!

Clone Wars Recap S4 E10: Carnage of Krell

WHOA! Shit just got real, yo! The first three episodes of the four-part Umbara arc on The Clone Wars left us with a serious feeling of deja vu as key plot points continued to repeat themselves - again, and again. But fourth time's the charm, and all eyes were on the finale to see if this whole thing was actually going somewhere, and specifically if douchebag Muppet Jedi Krell was finally going to have a throw-down battle with the increasingly disenchanted clone commander Rex, where only one of them walked away. And I'm thrilled to say that I wasn't disappointed.

This was a pretty hardcore and uncompromising cap to the story, so much so that I'd be surprised if Lucas and Co. even had any balls left after banging them up against the wall so long. Huge SPOILERS ahead, so if you haven't seen this one and intend to, then I sincerely suggest that this time you watch the episode first.

The rest of you? ONWARD!

Clone Wars Recap S4 E09: Plan of Dissent!

Third verse. Different from the first? Uh... no, not really. The third part of the Umbara Quadrilogy Plan of Dissent brazenly retells the same story, beat for beat, as the first two parts. The exponentially frustrated clones are trapped in Space Groundhog Day, but does the episode do it well?

Join me after the jump where I'll desperately attempt to justify how this one still has a kick, even though we know everything that is going to happen before it starts...

Clone Wars Recap S4 E08: The General!

Second verse. Same as the first? The four part Umbara saga continues with this week's episode The General, presumably focussed around four-armed, hardass, douchebag Jedi, General Krell, who spent last week bossing around the clones like the disposable, test-tube-baby, cannon fodder they are. The bastard!

"GO TO YOUR ROOM!"

Will this week be more of the same? I predict: darkness, lasers, impossible missions, gruff military screaming, a fallen comrade, a lesson learned, and a hard-won victory.

Join me after the jump to see if I'm right...

Clone Wars Recap S4 E07: Darkness on Umbara!

The Clone Wars animated series returns after a two week hiatus, and begins what I believe will be the first of a four-part storyline. After two humourous Artoo and Threepio themed episodes hardened fans have been openly weeping that Clone Wars isn't dark enough. Well put those fears to rest, because in Darkness on Umbara Uncle Lucas saves some power by turning off the lights and casting his heroes into the pitch black shadow world of Umbara.

Does this fan-pleasing, eco-friendly gambit pay off? Join me after the jump and I will shower you with all the SPOILER filled information that you need to know!

Clone Wars Recap S4 E06: Nomad Droids!

With a host of writers and directors The Clone Wars animated series can be quite uneven. It's either breathtakingly brilliant, or frustratingly bland. It's mostly great, but you can guarantee that if you recommend the show to someone who's still on the fence then the first episode they see won't be one of the better ones.

So if you are unsure, then I heartily recommend this one. Nomad Droids is an epic, episodic romp starring C3PO and R2D2. It's filled with adventure, dark humour, and a lot of surprises. Bookended by a peripheral battle, it thrusts Artoo and Threepio back into their unassuming Rosencrantz and Guildernstern roles, giving them free reign to reluctantly influence events in three very unique scenarios. Along the way there are a lot of callbacks to the original trilogy. You'll certainly recognise some iconic shots.

You know, I love this one so much that I'm reluctant to actually recap it! If you're keen to see it then I'm loathe to spoil any of the moments, and if you already have seen it, then why don't we just high-five each other and discuss it in the comments section. And if you saw it and didn't like it, then I will battle you in the comments section. Have at you!

This is the best one this season and among my all time favourites. 

Clone Wars Recap S4 E05: Mercy Mission

Star Wars, you guys! How lucky are we to live in an age where brand new Star Wars is greedily shovelled down our throats on a weekly basis. It's 1977 all over again, except with smaller pants and less body hair!

This week it's Mercy Mission, starring R2D2, C3PO - two plucky droids with conflicting body shapes who alternate wildly between love and hate. Will one of them finally succeed in killing the other? Join me after the jump and we'll surely find out! (Spoilers!)

Clone Wars Recap S4 E04: Shadow Warrior!

I always get flack for being the Star Wars apologist. I love Star Wars with every fibre of my squandered being. See us talking one on one right now? See that glazed look in my eyes? That's right. I'm looking at you but I'm thinking about Star Wars.

So it was a heart-punch that the first three episodes of season four of The Clone Wars kind of left me cold. And damp. And soggy in places. So it brings me a surge of almost unsettling pleasure to inform you that the newest episode Shadow Warrior was ultimately a triumphant return to form, for me. Not only did I greatly enjoy the episode, but it was primarily about Gungans, and starred that floppy fish-eared rapscallion Jar Jar Binks!

So join me after the jump, where I intend to thoroughly school you on why Clone Wars is back, and Jar Jar is awesome!... This is very much a recap this time. (MESA THINKIN' THERE BE BOMBAD SPOILERS!)