Season 1
The opening episode of the series is a tad odd in that it doesn't feature many of the main cast. The main character featured is Yoda, and aside for the finale of season 6, he has only a minor role in the series. Almost immediately into the series, a problem we had with the movie is addressed. We are able to get a more in-depth look at some of the clones, even going as far as taking their helmets off.
More than that, the clones form an integral part of the series, with many episodes having the Jedi take a back seat to them. The clones may share the same voice, but there are differences in their personalities, and occasionally ones go renegade.
The advantage of 20-minute running time is that pacing is much better than in the first two prequel films, even 2 and 3-part episodes feel much tighter and well written.
Whether you like it or not there are episodes where C3-PO, Padme Admidalla and (*shudder*) Jar Jar Binks are major characters. But I don't think they're that annoying in this. Jar Jar actually helps the Jedi out, providing valuable aid in often unorthodox ways (don't get me wrong though, he's still not a great character). Padme's more political views on the war is an interesting standpoint, as we see her try to help those that need it without resorting to an army.
We're introduced to the pirates, who will have a role in this series as both protagonists and antagonists, it's shown very quickly that they're out for themselves and nothing else.
The final episode of the season introduces bounty hunter Cad Bane, who would be a central part of later seasons, and the episode was clearly introduced to be included later on.
Best Episode: Hostage Crisis
Worst Episodes: Downfall of a droid/Duel of the Droids
Season 2
This is the series that expands the Star Wars lore. We see the introduction of Rush Clovis, the unwitting pawn of Dooku, the Mandalorian Dutchess Satine (and Obi-Wan Kenobe's love interest) and her enemies in Deathwatch, we see more Jedi Luminara and her Padawan Bariss Offee (who will have a major role later on), the Zillo beast and the beginning of the journey of Boba Fett.
But first we take a time skip back a while to properly introduce Cad Bane (this is one problem the show does have, it's timeline is not linear, sometimes episode episodes in this season take place before episodes in season 1, and it's a similar situation with season 3)
A little bit of time is given to Mace Windu as he questions his decision to kill Jango Fett in Attack of the Clones (something I wish they'd dealt with there) and Boba's inevitable quest for revenge (again, something I wish had been dealt with there)
The politics of the war another hefty part of this, with Dutchess Satine determined to keep Mandalore out of the war, and Padme Amidalla wanting to stop the production of more troops, hoping not to escalate the war, and unlike during the movies, it's played with enough drama and intrigue that it isn't boring like the prequel films usually made it.
Best Episode: Senate Murders
Worst Episode: Lightsaber lost
Season 3
This series in particular highlights the skewed timeline. The first two episodes, Clone Cadets and Arc Troopers take place either side of 'Rookies' in season 1, the following episode 'Supply lines' acts as a prequel to the opening episode Ambush. A few episodes later we see an episode called Evil plans and an episode called The Hunt for Ziro, which take place before and after the season 1 finale respectively. The next episode 'Pursuit of Peace' features Onacada Ferr who was killed in the season 2 episode Senate Murders.
That's not to say any of these were bad episodes, they were all fairly well written, with more insight into the clones and to the workings of senate when they're not in council meetings.
As well as that this season we see more corruption on Mandalore, the trade federation continuing their shady businesses. The return of bounty hunter Aura Sing (who was a bounty hunter who looked after Boba Fett, and also featured in Hostage Crisis), an interesting new stage in the life of Asajj Ventress, and the shadows of Anakin's fall to the dark side on the planet Mortis.
There are some fanastic episodes in the season, and our relationship with each of the characters grows. You really feel for Asajj Ventress as she betrayed by Dooku, after Siddeous starts to sense that she's too powerful. Her reunion with the night sisters and their attempts to kill Dooku are exciting, and you feel for her when they go wrong.
The Mortis trilogy of episodes focuses on the careful balance of the light and the dark side, also of Anakin's place as the chosen one. Anakin shown his future as Darth Vader, and is willing to join the dark side in order to destroy that future (the Son may be of the Dark Side, but he is no Sith) until those memories are eventually erased (we also get Liam Neason making a cameo as Jedi Qui-Gon Jinn)
The two-parter heroes on both sides and pursuit of peace make an interesting focus on the politics of the separatists. There are good people in the separatist regime. But just as they believe the Republic are being used by the trade guilds, they too are being used by Dooku.
Best Episodes - Overlords/Altar of Mortis/Ghosts of Mortis
Worst Episodes - Padawan Lost/Wookie Hunt
Season 4
In this season we deal with the strains of a monarchy, as a new-found king has to bring peace between his subjects before the Seperatists destroy it. Infilitration amongst the Gungans, the (not particularly interesting) adventures of C3-PO and R2-D2, a Jedi who is more than happy to see clones killed in suicide missions. The return of slavery, the return of Deathwatch, an infiltration into a group of bounty hunters, Count Dooku exacting his revenge on the Nightsisters, and the choices Assaj Ventress has to make and the return of Darth Maul.
The opening 3-parter Water War/Gungan Attack/Prisoners is another interesting example of how a war between Jedi and Seperatist armies can go, with the Jedi looking to armies aside the clones and the separatists using more and more advanced technology. The idea that the oppression of the separatists gives the prince an idea to get his people rallying behind him is an excellent one.
Darkness on Umbara/Plan of Dissent/Carnage of Krell is a trilogy focused on the clones as they have to find clever solutions to avoid partaking in Jedi General Krell's suicide attacks. The revelation that Krell had succumbed to the Dark Side, is, whilst not surprising, an interesting position for the clones, especially those that had rallied behind him.
The trilogy Kidnapped/Slaves of the Republic/Escape from Kedavo is notable as it raises the emotional stakes for Anakin and Ahsoka as Ahsoka's people are put under slavery. Anakin's rage at this, given his own background in slavery is an interesting development for his character
The next episode 'A friend in need' features Lux Bonteri, son of the separatist senator Ahsoka met in 'heroes on both sides' who was killed by Dooku. It's also notable for the aforementioned return of Deathwatch
The four-parter Deception/Friends and Enemies/The Box/Crisis on Naboo involve Obi-Wan Kenobe faking his own death to go under deep cover as a bounty hunter. He meets up and eventually befriends Cad Bane (who was in prison... when did this happen?) the Box features Obi-Wan showing his strategic skills as he works out how to get out of each trap, whilst also keeping his cover.
The final 4 episodes of the season focus on the journeys of Asajj Ventress, who must find her own path after her people are all-but wiped out (she becomes a bounty hunter, and a really damn good one) and Savage Oppress, the monster creation of Asajj in a failed attempt to kill Dooku. Feeling betrayed he seeks his brother, Darth Maul. These journeys eventually clash with Obi-Wan Kenobe, the man who originally cut Darth Maul in half at the fore-front.
Best Episode - Massacre
Worst Episodes - Mercy Mission/Nomad droids
Season 5
Season 5 is different from the previous 4 seasons in three distinct ways. The first of which it is 20 episodes long, whilst it's predecessors had 22, the second being it's structured in a more linear fashion with 5 distinct stories, each 4 parts long. The third is the sad death of Ian Abercrombie, the voice of Chancellor Palpetine/Darth Siddeous. While he is the primary voice for the character this season, you can hear a couple of his lines re-dubbed by Tim Curry, who takes on the role properly for the final season.
The first episode of the season is actually the first part of the fourth story of the season. In it Darth Maul and Savage Opress try to recruit pirates to their cause and inevitably fail
The first true story is a story of a town under the control of the Separatists, and the Jedi offering what little support they can to the rebellion without getting directly involved and being seen as terrorists (and you can see why, in part 2 they blow up a power plant, the reaction to that is not the reaction I'd expected)
The second story involves Jedi Younglings. They first have to gain the crystals for their lightsabers from the Crystal Cove, somewhere that tests skills they may be lacking (Yoda wisdom everyone), in part two they begin to assemble their lightsabers, but pirates attacking, knowing the crystals are valuable. Part 3 involves the Yonglings rescuing Ahsoka from the pirates and part 4 is them all rescuing each other from a seperatist attack. This one is notable for having David Tennant voicing an expert lightsaber crafter Huyang
The next story is involves D-Squad (featuring 5 droids and their commander Meebur Gascon) this is the least interesting story of the 4, as they capture an coding device from a droid ship, get stranded on a desert planet, help a clone regain his memory all in time to help prevent an incoming Separatist attack.
We return to the Darth Maul plot, with some of the most interesting developments. Darth Maul and Savage Opress plan to use Deathwatch to take over Mandalore to use as a stronghold for their own army in the war. To do this they convince crime families to attack, while Deathwatch comes in as the people's supposed saviour. The plan is successful, except when Darth Maul takes charge, a splinter group from Deathwatch form their own group, refusing to follow him. His plan brings him his revenge against Obi-Wan as he kills Dutchess Satine in front of him. Sadly for him, it also attracts the attention of Darth Siddeous and they engage in one of the best fight scenes of the show. Even with the aid of Savage Opress, they're clearly no match for Siddeous, who toys with them more often than he actually engages. A lot is left open at the end of the episode. This is the last time we see Mandalore, so we don't see what happens to the planet with Maul no longer running it, and we don't see the 'other plans' Darth Siddeous has for Darth Maul
The final story of the season involves a bombing at the Jedi Temple. The person assumed responsible is locked up by the end of the first part, but in part 2, it's revealed that she's the pawn and a jedi is involved, before she can say which one she is killed by a force attack and Ahsoka is blamed. Ahsoka, knowing that the evidence is against her goes on the run to prove her innocence, bumping into Assaj Ventress. She is eventually captured, barred from the Jedi order, and placed on a republic trial. Anakin interrogates Ventress and finds out the true person responsible, Bariss Offee. While her character being in this episode, and the fact that she was the only person other than Ventress in contact, did point at her guilt, it would have been nice to have some build up. Ahsoka is eventually cleared, but she refuses to rejoin the Jedi Order, citing their lack of trust in her as a reason. Ahsoka's absence from episode III had to be covered eventually, and we knew she's either die or leave, and the circumstances in which she leaves makes them quite tragic.
Best Episode: The Lawless
Worst Episodes: Secret Weapons/A sunny day in the void/Missing in action/Point of no return
Season 6
With the Disney Acquisition of LucasFilm, the future of Clone Wars was cast into doubt, with the announcement of Star Wars Rebels to debut this year, Clone Wars was effectively cancelled. But there were episodes already in production, or those that had already been completed but not aired. Netflix eventually picked this up as a season 6. Whilst Season 5 felt like a conclusion to the clone wars, season 6 was more a prelude to episode 3. Only 13 episodes long, it's also the shortest season of the show
We start with another clone centric set of episodes. In the beginning of the 4-parter: a clone trooper called Tup goes nuts and kills a Jedi. The Seperatists set out to kidnap him under the bequest of Count Dooku. On Camino, the analysis of Tup starts developing problems because of the resistance of the Caminoan doctors. Eventually Clone Fives with the aid of a robotic assistant nurse finds a chip inside Tup's brain that had malfunctioned, causing his melt-down. This is an inhibitor chip, designed to suppress free will in the clones, the Caminoans say, but the truth is it's control chip on standby for order 66. Fives removes his chip, and intends to present his case to the senate, but he is drugged by the Caminoan on the way. He is forced onto the run, believed to have attacked the chancellor (whether or not he did is unknown) and is eventually killed before trying to explain the conspiracy to Anakin. This story is a tragedy in itself, and its the last clone-centric story.
The next trilogy of episodes revolves around the banking clan, and begins with Rush Clovis, the unwilling traitor to the separatists back in season 2. He tries to unravel corruption in the banking clan with the help of Padme Amidalla (much to Anakin's annoyance), as money embezzlement could bring the universal economy to its knees. Sadly, the final bit of evidence he needs is provided by Count Dooku, who eventually invades the banking homeworld to make Clovis look like a separatist conspirator (again) and passing control of the banks to Chancellor Palpetine. This is the last set of episodes Ian Abercrombie lends his voice to, and sadly they're not the most memorable.
The next story is the two-parter the disappeared. It's involves Mace Windu and Jar Jar Binks investigating a series of disappearances. The problem is Mace Windu is far from trusted (Jedi seen as kidnappers of children in these parts) This is without doubt the least interesting and least relevant story of the season.
The next story is an important standalone episode, which investigates further into the death of Sifo-Dyas mentioned back in episode 2. The revelations here are most interesting, and it leads to the Jedi discovering that Lord Tyrannous and Count Dooku are the same person, so Dooku was essentially providing them with their army.
The final 3-parter of the series features Yoda as a main character, which really hadn't been the case the opening episode. Yoda gets called upon by Qui-Gon Jinn (voiced once again by Liam Neeson). The other Jedi suspect separatist involvement. Yoda decides to go out alone to find answers, taking only R2 with him. Their first stop is the Degobah system, the world Yoda would eventually call his home. Qui-Gon explains that he needs to learn how to manifest his consciousness after death. (As he does in episode VI) he next travels to a planet strong with the force, where he undergoes trials to confront his hubris and then temptation. Yoda's temptation a world where Ahsoka is still part of the order, numerous Jedi are still alive and Dooku is not a betrayer, and it's interesting insight into the character. He is told to go to the ancient Sith Homeworld of Morriband (changed from the name Korriban in the extended universe because Lucas preferred the name) where he is challenged to face the dark side. It starts with Darth Bane, that Sith that created the rule of two voiced by Mark Hamill. But then Darth Siddeous and Count Dooku use Sith lightning magic? to create temptations for Yoda. Yoda wins, by being prepared to sacrifice everything, but he doesn't find out the Sith Lord's identity. Yoda returns to Corruscant saying his technique will help them win all future wars. As a finale goes it's a very interesting one, and lays plenty of seeds for the coming episodes.
Best Episode: The Lost One
Worst Episodes: The Disappeared (parts 1 and 2)
Star Wars: The Clone Wars had a great run of 121 episodes, and while it does leave loose ends, it doesn't leave me dissatisfied. The writing in these episodes is mostly brilliant, and a massive improvement over the movie, the voice acting is still stunning, and although they lack some of the more famous main stars like Samuel L Jackson and Christopher Lee, they have decent guest stars like David Tennant and Liam Neeson
Seasons 4-6 are the strongest seasons, as they're not hampered so much by skewed timelines. Seasons 1 and 2 are the weakest seasons, as a lot of episodes are just set up for season 3 episodes. Season 3 lies in the middle, and whilst not the strongest season overall introduces many really interesting ideas like the downfall of Asajj Ventress
It fits reasonably well within Star Wars continuity. To my knowledge there is no battle between General Grievous and Anakin Skywalker, allowing the first time meeting into in episode 3 still in tact. The only major continuity issue I know of is the resurrection of Darth Maul not properly being dealt with. This problem could just be down to the unexpected cancellation of the series, undoubtedly Darth Maul would have shown up again had there been more episodes.
The Senate Politics still play a major part in the film, but I feel more engaged as the dialogue is more believable and there's a lot more explanation of everyone's point of view of the outside
The animation still has its issues with character designs for the humans, but the droids look exceptional, being almost identical to their designs from the films.
With all that, Star Wars Rebels has a challenge to match or even outdo the quality of this series, and I'll be reviewing it when it airs, I wish the producers the best of luck with it.
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Images used in this review are from Star Wars: The Clone Wars and belong to their respective owners. All images in this review are subject to fair use.
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