In the episode, the heroes of the Republic begin their campaign to free the planet Ryloth from the oppressive occupation of enemy forces. In an effort to break through the orbiting Separatist defenses, however, Ahsoka must learn a hard-hitting lesson after she disobeys Anakin's orders -- and loses most of her squadron as a result.
Director Brian Kalin O'Connell and writer George Krstic welcomed the opportunity to explore some of the less heroic aspects of the conflict, particularly examining the responsibility of the Jedi in light of the consequences of their actions.
"It's easy to make the Jedi into superheroes, but showing their vulnerability really makes them far more interesting and believable," O'Connell says. "You have this Padawan in the footsteps of the Chosen One. And she fails -- badly. Clones die, and that's horrible -- and we really get to feel that weight. But we also get to see how Anakin rebuilds Ahsoka's confidence, and how she comes back and rises to the challenge."
Krstic agrees, adding that the episode offered an opportunity to infuse the Saga's classic space opera elements with a new emotional weight.
"This is a very epic episode -- it;s grand and operatic ala the old days of the original Star Wars," he says. "There are so many wonderful aspects to this episode because Ahsoka must deal with real life and death situations, and the result isn't good. She gets her first experience dealing with the burden of command, and finds out that it isn't all heroics. It really is a burden."
As the beginning of a three-part story arc, "Storm Over Ryloth" expands the scope of the Clone Wars to illustrate both the far-reaching and intimate effects of the war. Tackling ambiguities and exploring emotional motivations and consequences, this episode sets the stage for "Innocents of Ryloth" and "Liberty of Ryloth," the continuation and conclusion of the thrilling Ryloth saga.
