The Clone Wars (2008-2014 ; 2020)

I thought TCW was okay. It did get better as it went but I prefer the EU multimedia era over it. The continuity issues were a problem (like Obi-Wan fighting Grievous and Anakin fighting Dooku multiple times…), I didn’t really like Matt Lanter as Anakin all that much (I did like the rest of the voice acting), the nerfing of Grievous, the way they changed Dathomir and the Mandalorians, the movie story was terrible. I did like the Mortis, Umbara, Onderon and the Dagobah/Shamans of the Whills arcs, those were great, and the Siege of Mandalore arc in season 7 was really great; I like Ahsoka in the first 5 seasons (her story and character is very similar to Zayne Carrick from the Knights of the Old Republic comics); I’m not a fan of the idea of Darth Maul coming back, I felt he served his purpose to the story in The Phantom Menace and the pre-TPM EU stuff, but the way they did it and Sam Witwer’s voicework was actually done really well. I feel like if I didn’t already have the EU material I’d like the rest of the show a lot better. I do appreciate Lucas’ involvement in it, though. I place TCW in my secondary canon, which is the Fantasy Flight RPG’s explanation of how the show is in-universe Imperial propaganda and how the events may have happened but not exactly the way depicted in the show, it reconciles the continuity issues very easily, at least for EU fans like myself. Though I will say, I think TCW fans are great, they’re very passionate and polite, they don’t call you toxic if you don’t like the show, for instance. Overall, TCW is just okay for me; I have the EU content for Clone Wars content that I like, so I’m not missing out on the era completely. I’m glad the show has its fanbase and I do appreciate it for what it is. Also, as a note, I’m a huge prequel fan, both of the trilogy itself and the overall era.

I love The Clone Wars! I saw the movie in 2008 and at first I didn’t like it because I’m like “Anakin doesn’t have an apprentice”. See, I didn’t know the movie was the beginning of a series until 2017! Mr bother texted me saying “Remember that Clone Wars movie years ago? Well they made a series out of it.” My response: “I’m not interested in anything Disney Star Wars”. Then he told me it was made while George Lucas still owned Star Wars. I watched it on Netflix and loved it.

I’ve introduced my Mom to it, who is a huge Star Wars fan. Now I’m introducing 3 of my friends to the series. We’re actually starting season 2 tomorrow (Sunday). Don’t worry, we’re watching in chronological order. This will be my fourth time binging the series.

I love everything about it.

Okay.

I did a full watch of seasons 1-6 a year and a half ago as part of a total Star Wars watch (PT-TCW-OT) when I was finally able to put Disney Star Wars in its place and enjoy Star Wars again.

Full disclosure….I’m an EU guy dating all the way back to 1995. Like many other EU guys in this community, I admit I’m automatically biased against TCW, but I learned to accept it when certain elements like the Father, The Son, and the Daughter were integrated into the over arching story in Fate of the Jedi books. To see that particular arc was the main reason I chose to watch it.

I would be a lying slob if I said TWC didn’t have its good parts here and there, but Filoni played too fast and loose with retconing for my tastes. He gimped Grievous after Genndy Tartakovsky made him so badass in his version. Anakin’s line at the start of the duel against Dooku in RotS doesn’t jive thanks to TCW. The complete and utter savaging of Mandolorian culture. His version of Dathomire…bleh. These are just the ones that always come to mind when I think about it. I won’t go as far as to include and dump an Ashoka, because in the end she was a well crafted character as you follow her story, but I will say Filoni’s continual hard on for her makes it hard to take her seriously when all is said and done. She was totally protected by plot armor because she was his baby.

Those are my initial thoughts.

1) Thoughts on Clone Wars: Best TV show of all time, beats any live action show i’ve seen

2) Fave arcs: Mortis (s3), Fives, clone chip (s6), Siege of Mandalor  (s7), Zygerria (s4), Clovis tricked into taking over banking (s6), Ahsoka leaves (s5)

cried my eyes out during Siege of Mandalor, still cry my eyes out watching Ahsoka leave

3) Fave characters: Anakin, fave character in all Star Wars