“A true heart should never be doubted.”

Our newsreel narration alerts us to the fact that Senator Rush Clovis is involved in a Separatist conspiracy.  Also, Anakin has returned from a long engagement.  Padme kicks Threepio out and the two get very lovey and domesticated.

The big news this time around is that the Banking Clan is suspected to have dealings with the Separatists.  This was a bit of a shock because I believed the Banking Clan was already involved and they knew it;  it was something we found out during Attack of the Clones, along with the links to the Machine Union and the Trade Federation.

The Jedi Council decides a fellow Senator is required to spy on Clovis and although Senator Amidala knows him the best, she refuses.  They try to get Skywalker to talk to her and his machismo chauvinism convince her she can do the job.  That and she didn’t know he was suspected in dealing with the Separatists.  They quarrel for a few minutes in the Senate chamber with the floating chairs and at first I felt like Anakin was playing the part of an overbearing husband and general cad in order to trick her into volunteering.  It made me sad to realize he actually believed, after all this time, that his wife – accomplished Senator and proven warrior queen – couldn’t handle herself as a spy.  It felt disingenuous but more in line with what the movie version of Anakin was; a petulant he-man who believes his way is the right way.

Senator Amidala agrees to spy on Senator Clovis and so reopens communication with the man with whom she alludes to have been particularly and mysteriously close.  Anakin doesn’t like it but acts as a regular Naboo pilot in taking her and Rush to Cato Neimoidia where Senator Lott Dod (any poke at US Senators Lott and Dodd?) acts as though all he wants is to keep his people prosperous.  Behind closed doors, Lott and Rush conspire with Geonosian Poggle the Lesser (the same Geonosian who gave Count Dooku the plans for the Death Star) to build a massive droid factory.  Eventually, Padme figures it out, steals the holographic plans, is poisoned but is saved by Anakin.  The details aren’t important.

What’s important is that “Senate Spy” is a big departure for The Clone Wars.” The show has primarily dealt with political intrigue and battle planning or the growth of Ahsoka as a padewan learner.  “Senate Spy” touches more on adult themes such as love and betrayal and jealousy without being either adept or clumsy at it.  It’s a reminder that Padme and Anakin are married in secret and that even the vaunted Jedi Knights have secrets and baggage and traits that are unbecoming.  Once again we see Skywalker’s lethally envious side and I wonder again how it is Padme ever fell in love with him.

It was effective but simple.  It’s hard to be more complex with your emotional palette in twenty minutes.  Three and a half out of five green lightsabers.