The Disappeared

The Disappeared- Parts I & II is a story arc from the final season of “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” (Season 6- The Lost Missions), which pulls the most unexpected move that no Star Wars fan would have ever seen coming…. Mace Windu & Jar Jar Binks teaming up together for their own adventure!  

The story line is that a world called Bardotta, which is full of Gungan-relatives, is in a serious ditch. The planet’s spiritual leaders in the force, called the Dagoyan Masters, keep disappearing one by one (hence the title ). The Queen of the planet, Julia, contacts the Galactic Republic for aid. However, she only wishes for one person in the Senate to help her solve this grave mystery, and that person is… Jar Jar Binks. This doesn’t just question the Jedi on why she of all people would want & only want Representative Binks, but because of conflict and the Jedi’s own rage in the Clone War, the Bardottean people refuse to be affiliated with them. Master Windu (or Masteren Mace as Jar Jar called him) volunteers to go investigate with Jar Jar.  It turns out that Binks and the Queen have romantic connection. But that’s not all! Julia is kidnapped, and the dynamic duo discovers that a dark cult has been behind everything. The cult dedicates itself to a mysterious figure known as The Great Mother, and that they are planning to fulfil a dark prophecy.  Now it is up to Binks & Windu to rescue Julia and prevent the cult’s dark intentions from coming to pass.

The episodes are incredibly well-done and theatrical worthy. Basically, Dave Filoni’s team took inspiration and elements from the “Buddy-Cop” genre and used a space fantasy setting to tell the story and developed their characters. Even though it dives a little too deep into the spiritual side of Star Wars, I can give it a pass. The Bardottan leaders are sort of like Pastors or Priests who believe in the natural force, while the Fragawl Cult represents the dangerous works of dark pagan organizations. Of course, it does feel a bit like “The Temple of Doom”, but with an anti-witchcraft message… I think.

Jar Jar was so handled well in this saga, that even people who never liked him ended up liking him or found him tolerable. I did in fact like him in “The Prequels” (aaagh, I dislike calling them that), but sadly… due to his debut’s reaction being primary negative, his roles in the next films were cut lower and lower, so he didn’t really have much character development to help out with his reputation.  Thankfully, The Clone Wars has tried numerous times to give Binks both a spotlight and a chance to gain more love for the Gungan. In this arc, Jar Jar isn’t just determined with a chance of understanding the situation, but he isn’t afraid to get a little… physical. Hessa in fact, punches a guy twice! It’s also great that actor Ahmed Best reprised his role again. Mace also has more character added to him, since he is put into a situation where he’ll have chemistry with Jar Jar.  He closely bonds with the Gungan overtime, and even is a good teacher for him when Binks needs instruction. I do think Terrence C. Carson is a good voice-actor, but it would’ve been if Samuel L. Jackson came in to make the episode really special. Was he just expensive, busy, or…. (Oh, nice script for the cartoon you got Mr. Luc… WHHHHHHHHHHA-AA-A-T?  There is no Motherforcing way that ima gonna say good about Jar Jar!). As for the new characters, they are nice as well. Queen Julia serves as a plot-device, character of wisdom, and… typical… love-interest. Yes, Jar Jar Binks has one, while some of you reading this may… not.  Anyway, she may seem like a weird un-StarWarsy Clone Wars character, but she is a fine addition to the saga and helps the story and characters move. The supposed antagonist is The Fragawl Cultist Master with the Mask (whose name I couldn’t find...). The Master is like almost every other one-time Clone Wars villain. Except, he does seem more threatening when given the role of sacrificing people to demon-lords, and has a mystery to him due to his face being covered with a mask.  

I really don’t know what else to say except for the animation is fine. Anyway, I can think of some facts and hopes I can name. the pairing of Binks & Windu was inspired by a 2005 film starring Samuel L. Jackson called “The Man”, while the episode’s writer named the planet & people of Bardotta after an actress Bridgette Bardot. Also, it is the first arc in the series to have all parts share the same name (with the second one having “II” in the title). The arc is probably the final major appearance (or any appearance for that matter) Jar Jar Binks may make. I am hoping that it isn’t the case (especially since I have hopeless anticipation for him to be in the second movie about a certain construction-toy, speaking of which, I hope to see a set from that brand based off this episode), but if it is, then “The Disappeared” is a great “final-hurrah!” for him (both in The Clone Wars, and in general). It would've been cool if the episodes were made as a movie for theatres. In fact, every episode and it’s arc for Season Six seemed like it was worthy for the big screen.  That is all in conclusion for the review.  

When I did the artwork, I did my best to mimic the character designs of the show. I also tried to make it look like a movie poster, and added some Star Wars-ish familiarity. Along with taking inspiration from “The Temple of Doom” and a film called “Rock&Rule”.

Art by messa Noah/ Messa draw it because no won elssa wilsa.