Star Wars: The Clone Wars (and Rebels!) Appreciation Thread

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McNum said:
So, doing a chronological rewatch and I reached "Bombad Jedi" in season 1. Yes, an episode where Jar Jar is mistaken for a Jedi. And he was actually kind of funny in that episode. Jar Jar worked, but why?

I think it's because there's one change about him in Clone Wars that makes all the difference. The world reacts like the audience would. Everyone knows Jar Jar is a wandering disaster zone with a crazy amount of luck. He's still a bit of an idiot, and C3PO gets some deadpan lines on his behalf, but... he works. And that's kind of interesting.
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Midway through my first watch of season 1, but one of the other big differences is that Jar Jar actually does useful things and solves problems. In the movies all he ever was is a nuisance. In the movies you just had to ask "why do they even bring this guy along?" But in the show he is actually useful so he has a reason to be there besides "comic relief."
 
Holy jeez.
With GAF always mentioning how good The Clone Wars is, I made a fatal mistake.
I watched the movie. And season 1 episode 1.

What an astonishingly terrible/generic introduction to this series.

I think I'll skip to an arc listed in the OP next. Presumably the show really is kinda good eventually? Or is it a "You had to be a teenager at the time" thing???
 
Markster said:
Holy jeez.
With GAF always mentioning how good The Clone Wars is, I made a fatal mistake.
I watched the movie. And season 1 episode 1.

What an astonishingly terrible/generic introduction to this series.

I think I'll skip to an arc listed in the OP next. Presumably the show really is kinda good eventually? Or is it a "You had to be a teenager at the time" thing???
Click to expand...

Going off of that, is that image in the OP an accepted way to 'jump in' and hit the major story arcs / best episodes?
 
Markster said:
Holy jeez.
With GAF always mentioning how good The Clone Wars is, I made a fatal mistake.
I watched the movie. And season 1 episode 1.

What an astonishingly terrible/generic introduction to this series.

I think I'll skip to an arc listed in the OP next. Presumably the show really is kinda good eventually? Or is it a "You had to be a teenager at the time" thing???
Click to expand...

Kinda good, na it gets absolutely amazing.
image in the OP might be true for S1 but after S2 that list is basically just the absolute must see episodes because most of 3,4,5,6 are great anyway.
 
I feel kinda bad that most people are just going by the guide. There are plenty of episodes and arcs on there not mentioned I thought were fun to watch.
 
Toa TAK said:
I feel kinda bad that most people are just going by the guide. There are plenty of episodes and arcs on there not mentioned I thought were fun to watch.
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I plan to go back and watch all of it at some point, but I'd like to get the most bang for my buck with what little free time I have. :)
 
Watch the arcs both highlighted and with footnotes from the guide. Those are basically the good ones. Yes the series does get "amazing". Season 1 even the best arcs aren't the best in the series, but they're still important. You start to see the promise when you get to the Season 2 arcs. Season 3 is even better. And Season 4-6 have top notch quality stories that are truly outstanding. Stories run all series long from the start though, so those arcs in the early seasons are basically required for the pay off. There are also some that are pretty standalone, but just dumb fun (like the Godzilla arc in season 2).
 
Toa TAK said:
I feel kinda bad that most people are just going by the guide. There are plenty of episodes and arcs on there not mentioned I thought were fun to watch.
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The introduction to the series through the movie and 1st episode are so rough, it's really hard to imagine carving time out of one's schedule for whole seasons.

I'd say that I think I'd be into using the guide as a Quick Start guide, where I could start watching sequentially if it's getting engaging enough.

Kinda like the "Star Trek TNG in 40 hours" thing. "This is what you need to hit, but trust me there's a lot of great stuff that this skips too".
 
A-V-B said:
Aw, yeah!

clonewars3.jpg


Oh, wait.

Oh.
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My man.
 
My issue with the guide is its really not that good.. All of the Honorable Mentions are basically must see episodes. A lot of lore building things get cast aside as don't watch or well if you want too.
 
ShinySylvee said:
Midway through my first watch of season 1, but one of the other big differences is that Jar Jar actually does useful things and solves problems. In the movies all he ever was is a nuisance. In the movies you just had to ask "why do they even bring this guy along?" But in the show he is actually useful so he has a reason to be there besides "comic relief."
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That's true. Jar Jar also gets some genuine hero moments in that episode. I mean, Jar Jar caught Nute Gunray, basically. They keep him around because, despite being a lucky, clumsy oaf, they can trust him to do the right thing if the chips are down. And do it in ways no one else had thought of. So he works.

It's almost sad how "easy" it is to make Jar Jar work when he just did not in Episode I. And he even WAS useful there, with leading the Jedi to his home city and all. Just show him in a context of "trying to help" more than "walking disaster zone".
 
watched season 1's 'rookies', then the ryloth trilogy, and then it was off to season 3. really wasn't feeling the show, and then they had a lot of ventress episodes leading into the mortis stuff and man, aside from the dumb mindwiping instawin button, that was a lot of fun.

it's hard for me to reconcile this being part of the trilogy. it's the same characters from the prequels and anakin had an apprentice who was never once referred to? okay. weird. i don't really care about the prequel films that much so this actually kind of works decently in place of them, i think.

i was definitely surprised at just how violent the show was. head snappings, impaling, people getting shot to death. jesus christ.
 
You have to watch Landing at Point Rain. It is another shot at the Geonosis battle with raised stakes and has a really cool 3 front battle with high stakes.

I could never get into the Mortis arc. It is just too abstract and isn't grounded enough.
 
Warm Machine said:
You have to watch Landing at Point Rain. It is another shot at the Geonosis battle with raised stakes and has a really cool 3 front battle with high stakes.

I could never get into the Mortis arc. It is just too abstract and isn't grounded enough.
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Don't forget the 3 episodes following Landing at Point Rain. They are all part of the same arc.
 
My advice is to not skip around based on any guide. Just keep watching until you hit an arc that you're really not interested in and obviously has no bearing on the greater plot and just skip to the next arc. That way you don't miss anything that might have actually been entertaining. I don't see the point in blindly skipping stuff unless you're just trying to get through the series as fast as you can.
 
I liked Clone Wars, but my biggest issue with it was always how all over the place it was. I wish it had stuck with a core group of characters, and stayed with them. Instead, they peppered each season with pointless stuff, like Jar Jar episodes, or clone trooper episodes.

I think it's why I like Rebels more.
 
GAMEPROFF said:
Watched the first five episodes and quiete liked it. Way more adult then I remembered
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I remember watching Rookies when it premiered and one of the clones said "hell" I believe and I was taken aback, as that was so unusual for a kids cartoon at that point. And then it was edited out on reruns and I thought I was crazy until the Blu-Ray came out and it was unedited.

First season of Clone Wars was really hit or miss but it still has some of my favorite episodes of the entire series. Lair of Grievous is just perfection.
 
Just finished watching S02E03, and I'm liking the way S2 is shaping up so far. I feel like those first three episodes were a decent step up from the standard of S1, and having them tightly linked did a lot to keep me interested.
 
Noviere said:
I liked Clone Wars, but my biggest issue with it was always how all over the place it was. I wish it had stuck with a core group of characters, and stayed with them. Instead, they peppered each season with pointless stuff, like Jar Jar episodes, or clone trooper episodes.

I think it's why I like Rebels more.
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The Clone Trooper episodes are far from pointless. Some of the best stuff in the whole show is focused on the clone troopers.

Jar Jar is still pointless, of course.
 
Noviere said:
I liked Clone Wars, but my biggest issue with it was always how all over the place it was. I wish it had stuck with a core group of characters, and stayed with them. Instead, they peppered each season with pointless stuff, like Jar Jar episodes, or clone trooper episodes.

I think it's why I like Rebels more.
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It was a bit over the place, but I still liked the Clone Trooper eps.

The Jar Jar and droid episodes were pretty shitty though.

Still for me CW > Rebels
 
Noviere said:
I liked Clone Wars, but my biggest issue with it was always how all over the place it was. I wish it had stuck with a core group of characters, and stayed with them. Instead, they peppered each season with pointless stuff, like Jar Jar episodes, or clone trooper episodes.

I think it's why I like Rebels more.
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The clone trooper episodes are the best ones easily.
 
Not a fan of the Rebels cast outside of Hera and maybe Sabine. The rest are annoying and unlikable.

Clone Wars was a damn fine show from start to finish, minus the Padme/R2/3P0/JarJar-centric episodes.
 
Oops, I guess I should be giving my impressions here instead of in the overall Star Wars OT. but I'm a little past halfway through S2, and it's getting good. I loved the Geonosis arc, the Deserter episode, the "Ashoka and the old guy go find the stolen lightsaber" episode, and I LOVED the Mandlore arc. I love how unique and nuanced Duchess Satine is.

And I also like how Anakin is portrayed. He's almost the great hero, guy everyone is rooting for type guy, but more and more he does some borderline psycho thing and shrugs his shoulders about it while the background score works in just a subtle bit of the Imperial March. And how it's clearly rubbing off on Ashoka too... she's all too comfortable with her "let's just beat this guy's ass until he talks" mindset.
 
Yeah, Clone Wars really nails Anakin's slip to the dark side. I particularly love his relationship with Padme - they're clearly a loving, devoted couple, but under tremendous stress and with just a bit too much possessiveness and anger from Anakin. It sells the whole "attachments are bad for a Jedi" bit in a way the movies don't.
 
Duane Cunningham said:
Oops, I guess I should be giving my impressions here instead of in the overall Star Wars OT.
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Feel free to continue doing so, Clone Wars is one of our favorite topics in the OT. Though we do talk about spoilers a little more openly.

GAMEPROFF said:
Man, its kinda laughable how in every episode someone says "I have a bad feeling about this"
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A lot of the goofier elements, including that, start to disappear as the series goes on.
 
firelogic said:
Not a fan of the Rebels cast outside of Hera and maybe Sabine. The rest are annoying and unlikable.

Clone Wars was a damn fine show from start to finish, minus the Padme/R2/3P0/JarJar-centric episodes.
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Chopper is the best tho!

But seriously, even though I like Rebels, TCW is an overall stronger show. Rebels got a lot better this season though.
 
Duane Cunningham said:
Oops, I guess I should be giving my impressions here instead of in the overall Star Wars OT. but I'm a little past halfway through S2, and it's getting good. I loved the Geonosis arc, the Deserter episode, the "Ashoka and the old guy go find the stolen lightsaber" episode, and I LOVED the Mandlore arc. I love how unique and nuanced Duchess Satine is.
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These were also standout episodes to me as well, not to mention any episode with Cad Bane. I'm just under halfway through season 3 right now, and I'm kicking myself for writing the show off before giving it a chance. Season 1 was a bit slow, but it's really picking up steam now.
 
j-wood said:
Does season 6 suck or something? Why isn't it in the chart in the OP? I'm just starting this show.
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sphagnum said:
It was made before season 6 released. Personally I think season 6 is great, it's just short because the show had been cancelled.
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Season 6 also picks up on some plot lines that the movies didn't handle all that well. That season in particular really feels almost like an Episode 2.5
 
Finally getting around to watching the Clone Wars. Decided to watch every episode in chronological order. Enjoying so far even though it's not great. Expecting improvement based on impressions in here.

That said, just watched 'Bombad Jedi.' It was obviously pretty cringeworthy, but there was one exchange in the episode which almost had me in tears I was laughing so hard:

Padmé Amidala: Go back to the ship and call for help.

C-3PO: I regret the transmitters on the ship are out of order.

Padmé Amidala: What?

C-3PO: The ship has been destroyed.

Padmé Amidala: Battle droids?

C-3PO: No.

Padmé Amidala: Jar Jar?

C-3PO: Jar Jar.
 
AniHawk said:
watched season 1's 'rookies', then the ryloth trilogy, and then it was off to season 3. really wasn't feeling the show, and then they had a lot of ventress episodes leading into the mortis stuff and man, aside from the dumb mindwiping instawin button, that was a lot of fun.

it's hard for me to reconcile this being part of the trilogy. it's the same characters from the prequels and anakin had an apprentice who was never once referred to? okay. weird. i don't really care about the prequel films that much so this actually kind of works decently in place of them, i think.

i was definitely surprised at just how violent the show was. head snappings, impaling, people getting shot to death. jesus christ.
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Wait you skipped s2 completely? Or did I read that wrong? Because s2 is really good and imo overall the most consistent season of the show

j-wood said:
Does season 6 suck or something? Why isn't it in the chart in the OP? I'm just starting this show.
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S6 is really good, has some of the best arcs of the entire show. Like sphagnum said, that chart was made before those eps were out.

That recommendation chart is good, but these are my personal additions. Generally though, anything marked as 'honorable mention' is a must watch, for instance the Deception arc in s4.

S1: Ambush is a cool Yoda ep. Dooku Captured+Gungan General introduces Hondo. If you watch Cloak of Darkness + Liar of Grievous (you should), note that Bombad Jedi is the first chapter of that arc.
S2: I would watch this entire season, outside of maybe Lightsaber Lost. It's the most consistent Clone Wars season, with the stellar Geonosis arc as one of the highlights of the series. Cat and Mouse should be marked, awesome ep. Senate Spy sets up a later ep.
S3: Evil Plans and Hunt for Ziro are Cad Bane eps, so worth a watch. Mortis arc is a must. Closing eps are also worth it.
S4: First 6 eps can be skipped, then watch all the other eps. the Deception arc is fantastic, should be marked as must. Umbara = best arc of the series.
S5: I watched on blu-ray, and 'Revival' was placed before Eminence, where it belongs. Onderon arc is okay, nothing special. Youngling arc has a great first ep, but drags on a bit near the end. Droid arc (starts with 'Secret Weapons') is a failed experiment, wouldn't bother with it
S6: watch the entire thing, it's only 13 eps and has some great arcs.
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I've been rewatching TCW, and I noticed the part where some death watch goons shoot a droid for no reason and the droid goes "Why? Whyyyyyyyyyy?" lol

If only the prequels could pull off that kind of dark humor.
 
AniHawk said:
watched season 1's 'rookies', then the ryloth trilogy, and then it was off to season 3. really wasn't feeling the show, and then they had a lot of ventress episodes leading into the mortis stuff and man, aside from the dumb mindwiping instawin button, that was a lot of fun.

it's hard for me to reconcile this being part of the trilogy. it's the same characters from the prequels and anakin had an apprentice who was never once referred to? okay. weird. i don't really care about the prequel films that much so this actually kind of works decently in place of them, i think.

i was definitely surprised at just how violent the show was. head snappings, impaling, people getting shot to death. jesus christ.
Click to expand...

Not a really good idea to suddenly jump to season 3 after the first. There are a number of notable arcs you should watch from the second season, including the Mandalore episodes which will have relevance later.
 
Holy shit. I just drove everywhere trying to find The Clone Wars movie. I'm looking for the blu ray but, even the DVD was no where to be found. I'm about to drop $60 plus on amazon or Ebay for this... I didn't think this would be such a rare treasure..
 
16BitNova said:
Holy shit. I just drove everywhere trying to find The Clone Wars movie. I'm looking for the blu ray but, even the DVD was no where to be found. I'm about to drop $60 plus on amazon or Ebay for this... I didn't think this would be such a rare treasure..
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Well it IS unbelievably bad.
 
16BitNova said:
Holy shit. I just drove everywhere trying to find The Clone Wars movie. I'm looking for the blu ray but, even the DVD was no where to be found. I'm about to drop $60 plus on amazon or Ebay for this... I didn't think this would be such a rare treasure..
Click to expand...
I just rewatched this the other day just for the hell of it. Absolutely terrible movie. It's on netflix.
 
Markster said:
Holy jeez.
With GAF always mentioning how good The Clone Wars is, I made a fatal mistake.
I watched the movie. And season 1 episode 1.

What an astonishingly terrible/generic introduction to this series.

I think I'll skip to an arc listed in the OP next. Presumably the show really is kinda good eventually? Or is it a "You had to be a teenager at the time" thing???
Click to expand...

No it's really really good.
 
16BitNova said:
Holy shit. I just drove everywhere trying to find The Clone Wars movie. I'm looking for the blu ray but, even the DVD was no where to be found. I'm about to drop $60 plus on amazon or Ebay for this... I didn't think this would be such a rare treasure..
Click to expand...

Dude, don't buy the movie. It's on Netflix. If for some reason you don't have access to Netflix, skip it. Do not pay money for the movie.
 
it's hard for me to reconcile this being part of the trilogy. it's the same characters from the prequels and anakin had an apprentice who was never once referred to? okay. weird. i don't really care about the prequel films that much so this actually kind of works decently in place of them, i think.
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This show was created years after the prequel films were released. If anything, it's the quality of writing, acting and dialogue that makes this series incompatible with the prequels. I first started watching the show with my niece and nephews last spring and was shocked at how decent it was in comparison to the prequels.

It's why I think the prequels should be remade in animated form, utilizing the same writing team from Clone Wars and Rebels. Aside from improved writing and dialogue, an animated prequel series would be more in line with Clone Wars and Rebel from a visual standpoint as well. I know that Clone Wars was designed to bridge the events between AOTC and Revenge of the Sith, but I find the tonally different styles jarring, nonetheless. Clone Wars doesn't improve those films. If anything, the films unfairly brings down the series to the extent that it probably gets overlooked because of what it's based on.

Not every episode in Clone Wars is great. But I feel that there's a level of passion and energy put into those episodes that had been largely missing from the prequels.
 
I think that the lack of George Lucas for rebels impacted the photography of that show. It doesn't have the same composition at all and that composition is the key to visually identifying what Star Wars is.
 
Warm Machine said:
I think that the lack of George Lucas for rebels impacted the photography of that show. It doesn't have the same composition at all and that composition is the key to visually identifying what Star Wars is.
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TFA also suffered from this, but it's not a deal breaker
 
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