Summary
- The Clone Wars series improved George Lucas' prequels, adding depth, better dialogue, and meaningful stories that resonate with viewers today.
- The introduction of Ahsoka Tano altered the franchise, with her character development significantly impacting Anakin Skywalker's arc.
- The series changed viewers' perspective on the clones, portrayed important political issues during the Clone Wars, and more.
When Star Wars: The Clone Wars was released back in 2008, I was ten years old. I had seen the six Star Wars movies at that point, and while I thought they were cool, I did not understand what was happening most of the time. I felt that the characters with green and blue sabers were good guys, and the ones with red sabers were bad guys. My knowledge of Star Wars was minimal, yet I was entranced by the spectacle of it all. Then came the animated movie and Cartoon Network series, and my life changed forever.
I was immediately hooked on the show. I started to gain a love for Obi-Wan Kenobi's wit. Even though I knew the clones were "bad," I started to love them. I even began to like the snippy teenage girl who was the Padawan of the great Anakin Skywalker. More than 15 years and seven seasons later, The Clone Wars series is the best television series Star Wars has ever created, and as I've gotten older, I have realized why.
Clone Wars Timeline Explained: When Each Season Takes Place (Including The Bad Batch)
All seven non-chronological seasons of The Clone Wars take place within a three-year period, but where does one year end and the next begin?
8 The Series Has Made The Prequels Better
George Lucas Was Able to Redeem His Movie's Faults
The most significant thing this series was able to do, whether it intended to or not, was make George Lucas' prequel movies better. The prequel movies, which were not well-received during their theatrical releases, are regarded with much more fondness today than they were then. This is due to the show's impact on audiences and the holes the series could fill in that the movies couldn't. The stories are more intricate, with better dialogue and meaningful messages that kids like me could take to heart.
George Lucas, who needed a showrunner, plucked Dave Filoni away from Nickalodean's Avatar: The Last Airbender series, and the move paid off in spades. Lucas and Filoni became a dynamic duo that worked seamlessly together. The stories they crafted were able to take the things that made the prequels great while repairing the things that were not so great from the movies. They were also able to add many new characters and components, allowing Star Wars to evolve in the best ways. Things like Anakin's relationship with Pé became much better thanks to the series.
The Clone Wars also introduced many new characters into the franchise. Some characters were from Legends, some were from Genndy Tartakovsky's Clone Wars, and many were original characters. Many characters were redeemed after their untimely demises in the prequel movies, including Darth Maul, an infamous character who was revived from the dead and vaulted himself into the conversation of best Star Wars villains. However, the best character from the series was one that took time for fans to ire, and now she's one of the most adored characters in Star Wars.
7 Ahsoka Tano Was Introduced To Star Wars
The Beloved Character Altered The Franchise In An Important Way
Ahsoka Tano's introduction to the Star Wars franchise started out rocky. The teenage apprentice to Anakin Skywalker was not well-received by fans, who felt she was annoying and overconfident. Little did we know that Dave Filoni had a plan that would soon see her become the most popular character in the series as time ed. Ashley Eckstein's portrayal of the character has become ired as Ahsoka's character evolved. Ahsoka, who is fantastic in and of herself, is also a character who makes others around her better.
Ahsoka is a character whose arc is not only great, but she also influences Anakin's arc in ways we did not think possible before the series. This Padawan-Master duo has become a personal favorite of mine because of the dynamic they form, as her influence on Anakin improves and streamlines his arc. This is prevalent after she leaves the Jedi Order, which makes his fall to the dark side all the more reasonable. She is also not the only factor that alters the perspective around the franchise.
Anakin & Ahsoka's History In Star Wars Explained
Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano have a meaningful, yet tragic relationship in Star Wars. How did they meet, and what happened between them?
6 Our Perspective Of The Clones Changed
We Hated Them, Now We Love Them
It still amazes me that the soldiers who ended up killing the Jedi in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith would become the most significant focal point of Lucas' animated series. The clones, voiced by Dee Bradley Baker, that we hated so much are now characters who are entertaining and awesome. We sympathize with the struggles they have to endure while also finding out that every one of them is unique in their own way. Lucas and Filoni's genius was crafting story arcs around certain troopers, like the Domino Squad, and creating troopers that we came to recognize.
Captain Rex, Commander Cody, Echo, Fives, and eventually Clone Force 99 would all become the most well-known clones in the franchise because of the substance they would provide. Story arcs like "Domino Squad," "The Deserter," and "The Carnage of Krell" would all be showcases where the brotherhood that bonds these clones shines. With heroic acts throughout the series and the essence of emotional storytelling, the series completely altered how we view clones. We would also understand the political issues behind them in the series.
5 The Political Issues Of The Clone War Were Explored More
We Got A Better Understanding Of The Issues Stirring In The Galactic Senate
This aspect of The Clone Wars series is one that I think is underappreciated. Episodes that delved into the politics of the war were ones that I appreciate more nowadays than I did when I was younger. Looking at the war through the perspective of the senators rather than the Jedi becomes a nice change of pace that helps you understand just how complex the war had become. The conflict between the Galactic Republic and the Separatists was well represented in episodes like "Senate Spy" and "Heroes on Both Sides."
Looking at the war through the perspective of the senators rather than the Jedi becomes a nice change of pace that helps you understand just how complex the war had become.
These specific episodes feature Pé in a role she would embody throughout the series. She exhibits honorable behavior while some of her compatriots in the Senate do not. She often embroils herself in the affairs of the Separatist allies in the Senate, like the banking clan and the trade federation. These qualities of her character are best shown in the episode "Pursuit of Peace" when she was able to convince the Senate not to deregulate the banks to pay for more clone troopers. Pé and the other characters have added great depth to them since the prequels.
4 Depth Was Added To Prequel Characters
Lucas and Filoni Perfected The Characters From The Movies
Whatever holes the characters from the prequel series had, The Clone Wars filled those holes up and improved upon them. The most significant example in this case would be Anakin Skywalker, whose exploits in this series made his character more well-rounded than the movies did. His relationship with Pé is also improved upon with much less cringe-worthy dialogue and beautiful scenes throughout the series. Thanks to The Clone Wars, the love these characters have for each other is true and genuine, and Anakin's relationship with Obi-Wan is also made better.
Obi-Wan was already a character with a lot of background information, but the series was able to continue to build upon what already made him great. Other Jedi who had limited or no speaking lines in the prequel movies were able to get their moments in the spotlight and were featured throughout the series in many great episodes. Villains from the prequels were also able to build upon their success. We could better understand the mindsets of characters like Count Dooku while Darth Maul was resurrected from the dead.
3 The Villains Were Top-Notch
Both Those From The Prequels and New Original Characters
The Clone Wars series had many amazing protagonists, but the antagonists were also amazing. Count Dooku and his apprentice Asajj Ventress were a lethal pair together as they sought to reign terror on the Republic by turning neutral systems against them and sabotaging their victories. Dooku also used General Grievous in this effect as well, who became a staple villain throughout the series. The conflict between these characters, eventually dividing them, made for great television.
The "Lair of Grievous" is a great episode in season 1 that shows this divide and provides some background on the character.
Other new characters were introduced to us, one of whom was able to make the transition into live-action. Bounty hunters like Hondo Ohnaka. The Jack Sparrow of Star Wars debuted in "Dooku Captured," and as time ed, his character became less of a villain and more of a friend.
Perhaps the best move Lucas and Filoni pulled off was the retcon of Darth Maul's death. After getting chopped in half by Obi-Wan on Naboo, the villain made a triumphant comeback. Maul then begins to inflict his wrath upon the galaxy to torment Obi-Wan. Many in the galaxy die because of his actions, including the Duchess of Mandalore and Pre Vizsla of Death Watch (another great villain introduced in season 2). Maul's actions from season 4 until the Siege of Mandalore have vaulted him into the conversation of Star Wars' greatest villains.
Maul officially returned in season 4, episode 21 "Brothers."
Star Wars: The Clone Wars Episodes In Chronological Order (Correct Watch Order)
With Star Wars: The Clone Wars being released non-chronologically, you need the correct viewing order to make sense of its different plotlines.
2 It May Be Animated, But It Is Not Exactly A Children's Show
The Series Took On Serious Issues Very Seriously
War, death, greed, corruption, and destruction are all overarching themes of this series. These are serious topics that animated shows are not often tasked with discussing. This series does all that in meaningful, emotional ways that create a strong bond between the viewer and the show. Star Wars has some depraved moments, but this series carries most of them. A lot of characters, especially clones we come to love, die, war crimes are committed, and the political issues sometimes feel too real.
An animated series tackling the issues it does makes it incredibly relatable for us. We become attached to characters only to see them go through grueling, painful moments that can sometimes result in death. The beauty of this is that some characters are made stronger by these encounters, and are thus made better for it. Still, this series, while animated, is not exactly for children. I love this and commend Lucas and Filoni for integrating such real-world issues into this series.
1 This Series Is The Best Way To Learn About Star Wars
There Is So Much Within The Show That Can Be A Teachable Moment
Having grown up with this series since I was ten, I have learned more about Star Wars from this series than anything else I have read or watched. Naturally, part of that is due to how much content there is, but it is also because of how amazing it is. Each episode always had a message at the beginning of the title credits that would relay what was going to happen, but they were crafted as a message to take away from the episode. The series was my teacher for the franchise and, in some ways, towards life as well, which is why it holds a dear place in my heart.
We learn so much about these characters through stories that feel authentic and carry great weight on us mentally and emotionally.
Seeing Ahsoka's journey from the beginning to her decision to leave the Jedi Order was an amazing and heartbreaking experience. She had to leave for her own good, but she also knew it would impact Anakin, whose character was made infinitely better by the series. This is one of many moments in the series that hints at Anakin's eventual turn to the dark side. We learn so much about these characters through stories that feel authentic and carry great weight on us mentally and emotionally.
Whether you are interested in the action, the characters, the story, or the politics of it all, The Clone Wars series is the best way to learn about the franchise. The series changed our perspective on things and characters shown in the prequel movies while improving upon its faults. It added depth to characters without oversaturating them and introduced new ones excellently. The most important thing of all is that The Clone Wars is the best story told in Star Wars.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
- Release Date
- 2008 - 2020-00-00
- Network
- Cartoon Network, Netflix, Disney+
- Showrunner
- Dave Filoni
Cast
Tom KaneNarrator / Yoda / Medical Droid / Yularen / Kraken (voice)
Anakin Skywalker (voice)
WHERE TO WATCH
Star Wars: The Clone Wars is an animated series that explores the intense conflict between the Republic and the Separatists. Featuring a mix of loyalty shifts and alliances, it delves into complex mysteries of the Force and showcases pivotal moments for characters like Anakin Skywalker and Master Yoda.
- Directors
- Brian Kalin O'Connell, Steward Lee, Giancarlo Volpe, Bosco Ng, Danny Keller, Rob Coleman, Justin Ridge, Nathaniel Villanueva, Saul Ruiz, Jesse Yeh, Duwayne Dunham, Atsushi Takeuchi, Robert Dalva, Walter Murch
- Writers
- Katie Lucas, Christian Taylor, Brent V. Friedman, Matt Michnovetz, Drew Z. Greenberg, Steven Melching, Chris Collins, Charles Murray, Eoghan Mahony, Bonnie Mark, Craig W. Van Sickle, Daniel Arkin, Jose Molina, Steven Long Mitchell, Cameron Litvack, George Krstic, Carl Ellsworth, Craig Titley, Julie Siege, Jonathan W. Rinzler, Ben Edlund, Douglas Petrie, Kevin D. Campbell, Kevin Rubio
- Franchise(s)
- Star Wars
- Seasons
- 7
- Streaming Service(s)
- Dis
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