We last left our intrepid Jedi and clone contingent stranded on the little known world of Maridun seeking refuge with the pacifist Lurmen.  The tribal leader Tee Watt Kaa forbade the villagers to assist the Jedi in defending themselves and was morally opposed to offering medical assistance to Ankin Skywalker after his Force induced injury aboard Aayla’s cruiser.  The Separatists, led by the Neimoidian General Lok Durd (voiced by George Tekai), begin their invasion of the small Lurmen village using a new weapon designed to wipe out all living things but keeping machines intact.

Previous to the invasion, the Jedi and clones execute a daring night raid to reduce the droid numbers but also steal two energy shield generators.  They use these during the attack to protect the village from the scorching long range weapons.  The Jedi and clones put up a valiant defense culminating in Anakin destroying the special weapon.  The Lurmen villagers rebel against their leader’s pacifist leanings and, led by his son Wag Too, jump into the fray in their unique, tumbling way.  The day and village are saved and Lok Durd is captured.  Anakin fights with a head wound and the other Jedi are skillful and mercifully short of one liners.

Given the obvious dedication this episode had to the ideas of war and peace, the bulk of it was spent fighting.  As much as the Lurmen’s leader wanted to avoid conflict, it would appear that despite his intentions and the teachings of the Jedi not to fight, the only resolution to their problem was to take up arms.  Even the most resolute of moral teachings and ideals and virtues seem to crumble in the face of relentless and inhuman assault.  Pitting vibrant living creatures against mechanical men is an easy way to show this facet, but one that may lose the real grittiness of what war is.  And make no mistake, this show is about war.  Robots and clones are the the main death toll, but it’s sentient, individual creatures that are doing the killing.  Does it matter that they’re killing automatons?

“Defenders of Peace” was the perfect follow up to “Jedi Crash.”  Where the first installment focused on building the story, the second part officially and enjoyable came through with the action.  The distorted Irish accent of the Lurmen was a little more distracting at first, but after a few minutes it really fit and I began thinking less and less that I was watching Finian’s Rainbow.  The struggle between the son and father was a good undertone of tension which was left not perfectly resolved, which is how it should be.  Battles don’t wrap up cleanly in 20 minutes no matter what the script says.  Tee Watt Kaa knows his little village is now on the Republic and Separatist’s map and despite their victory, he knows his people will yet again have to flee or fight.  His worry was punctuated at the very end by three Republic battleships appearing in low orbit above his small pod village.

Despite the lack of Obi-wan, General Grievous, Ventress or any of the other cool kids, “Defenders” was one of the better mini story arcs.  It typified Star Wars in its reliance on smaller, less advanced civilizations overcoming the might and superior numbers their oppressors and celebrated the idea that as a race, our weaknesses can be our strengths.  Hence it receives four and a half green lightsabers.