The Clone Wars Double Take: Gone with a Trace

Welcome to The Clone Wars Double Take—where Fabio and Ross (and maybe even special guests) will give some quick thoughts regarding the latest episodes of The Clone Wars (Season 7) on Disney+. On this article we will cover The Clone Wars: Gone with a Trace.

Fabio’s Double Take

Ahsoka Tano is back! I feel like it’s been an eternity since she left the Jedi Order and went on a new path. A path that was painted through the words of the Ahsoka novel by E.K. Johnston and later (chronologically) in Star Wars Rebels as she takes the mantle of Fulcrum—the secret hero of the Rebel Alliance. Gone with a Trace is the beginning of an amazing arc and the perfect appetizer to what’s to come in the final season of The Clone Wars.

Here are my favorite moments of the episode:

• The Lower Levels of Coruscant: Man, didn’t this episode remind me so much of Attack of the Clones! The mirrored scene of Ahsoka/Obi-Wan clinging onto the upside-down speeder bike/ASN-121 assassin droid while trying not to get hit by the busy air traffic of the lower levels of Coruscant was a delightful nod to the prequel episode.
• Ahsoka and her Past: I loved seeing Ahsoka back in action, but I couldn’t help thinking about what she has gone through so far and how difficult it must be for her to move on and forge a new path from scratch. She clearly misses her past life alongside Anakin and the Clones—which she cannot yet let go of as Republic starships lifting off the lower levels are a constant reminder of what she left behind. Luckily, she crashed near Trace, and hopefully this new friendship will help Ahsoka through this rough patch.
• The Martez Sisters: It was good to have an all-female protagonist episode after the previous high-testosterone arc. Ahsoka crashes onto the self-proclaimed best repair shop on 1313, owned by Trace and Raf Martez. It’s rough living in the lower levels of Coruscant, and most people have to adapt to the crime and illegitimate business nature in order to survive. Stepping into the Martez’s repair shop brought me back (or I guess forward) to the Colossus in Star Wars Resistance. The nature of the troublesome job (repairing a trio of demolition droids prone to violence) Ahsoka and Trace get involved in made it even moreso.

Gone with a Trace was a fresh new start and a good change in pace from the previous arc. I loved the introduction of the new characters, but I’m afraid they won’t have enough spotlight with only 5 episodes remaining. I’m excited to see Ahsoka’s path appear as we move along with the final season and how much impact it will have to the main storyline.

Ross’ Double Take

Ahsoka Tano kicking off this episode immediately was so welcomed. It will be so interesting to see how she handles the rest of the season—which seems to lead directly into the young adult Ahsoka novel by E.K. Johnston. But first she meets some new characters and what appears to be a new friend.

• Level 1313: It is so wonderfully Filoni to bring us back to this exact level of the Coruscant underground. This is where Ahsoka went when she was on the run previously and it is the setting for scenes in the Aftermath and Dark Disciple novels—and was also where George Lucas was going to set his live-action show. Large buildings don’t have a 13th floor because they are unlucky to superstitious folks. In that case, Level 1313 is double-trouble—even if it has awesome feral loth-cats all over the place.
• The Reveal: Ahsoka—after her crash speeder landing—meets Trace Martez. They small talk and get quick backstories before Trace hits her garage door opener. The ship inside is fully revealed and Ahsoka calls it out as a Nebula-class freighter—impressing her new friend with awareness. I have a good feeling about this ship being what takes Ahsoka to Mandalore.
• “Why are you helping me?”: Trace asks for payment with just about everything she offers, but she still comes across as friendly and of a good heart. When Ahsoka—stronger with no credits—is surprised by the good nature of Trace and asks why she’s being treated like this, the mechanic says, “Shouldn’t I? It seems like the right thing to do.” This seems comforting to the Togruta with Jedi skills.
• The Jedi: Speaking of Jedi skills, Ahsoka makes use of them twice to save her new friend—but that doesn’t mean the Jedi are well thought of. Trace says that Jedi are the ones who started the war and just go around policing the people of Coruscant. She shares, “When you’re a kid you hear stories. I guess they’re not what I thought they’d be.” This is culture shock to Ahsoka who has only imagined the Jedi as heroes to the people of the galaxy. The Jedi are losing the PR battle—which will allow Order 66 to come off as authentic.
• Love for Anakin: After beating up Pintu’s thugs Ahsoka is asked how she learned to fight like that. She smugly says, “My older brother taught me.” I’m assuming she is referencing her master and I love this quick, subtle recognition.

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