SummaryStar Wars: The Clone Wars is the latest animated series in the Star Wars franchise to hit the small screen. The series takes place in between the films Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Padmé Amidala, Yoda, Chancellor Palpatine and General Grievous...
SummaryStar Wars: The Clone Wars is the latest animated series in the Star Wars franchise to hit the small screen. The series takes place in between the films Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Padmé Amidala, Yoda, Chancellor Palpatine and General Grievous...
Although no half-hour TV series is going to capture the visual splendor and sophisticated sound of the big-screen experience, it's surprising how well this series reflects the style, attitude, ideals and spirit of the six "Star Wars" films.
This is a cool weekly cartoon series from Lucasfilm Animation that finds a fresh new style for depicting the struggle of the Jedi and their army of genetically engineered clones against the seemingly indomitable droid army of evil Separatists.
Pure Star Wars
After a movie pilot that wasn’t very good, Star Wars: The Clone Wars is a TV show that exceeded the expectations of many with it's mature (Sometimes brutal) themes, good computer animation, lightsaber fights, and 3rd dimensional characters.
This was a great series. It was sad to see it end. It was interesting to see many of the other Jedi characters and their adventures. Forget the bad reviews from "so called" critics. This series is much better than the junk put out by Disney.
In the 3-D digital animation of this series, [Yoda's] skin glows a healthy shade of moss, and his sprightliness helps this latest George Lucas diversion achieve some commendable action-adventure zip.
The first two half-hour episodes, airing at 9 and 9:30 p.m. Friday, are less raucous and seemingly more adult than the film. There's more attention to character development; Jabba the Hutt's flamboyant uncle isn't anywhere to be found.
Lucas could spend the rest of his life filling that hiatus with adventures whose outcomes are basically irrelevant to the larger story he has already finished telling. Many battles make up a war, after all, and each is an episode waiting to be animated. The two I've seen are bagatelles--brief and insubstantial but colorful and fluid.
If you expect it to be good--then yes, it's as disappointing as the summer movie it follows. If you think of it as a kid-oriented spin-off product--well, it still suffers from characters with all the vibrancy and pizazz of a PowerPoint marketing plan.
The main thing I always think of when I remember this show is Savage Opress. Not only did they successfully pull off the “you had a secret brother” thing with him very well, but his first episode is incredibly tragic, showing how he becomes this monster.
Of all the Star Wars movies and shows that I have seen and games that I have played, nothing has captured the true essence of Star Wars better then The Clone Wars. At first you might thing that this is just a kids cartoon but you couldn't be further from the truth. The Clone Wars series is actually a well written cornucopia of everything that makes Star Wars great. Having Dave Filoni, a super-fan among super-fans as the primary mind behind this show is the best thing that could have happened. He knows what fans want because he wants it too! Characters like Anakin and Jar Jar who often came across as annoying in the movies are actually handled far better on this show. Also by highlighting characters like Ashoka Tano and Asajj Ventress just to name a few, keeps the focus of the stories right in the grey areas of the Force. The clone troopers really shine in the show. Despite seeing hundreds of clones die you can't help but worry about what could happen to your favorite clones, like Rex, Echo or Fives. This show kept the soul of Star Wars alive during those years when it looked like there might never be another movie. If Disney put Dave Filoni and gang in charge of the entire Star Wars franchise I feel that they could create even greater Star Wars.
While the show itself gets really awesome later on the first season is not that good in comparison. It has a slower start and gets a lot better with the later episodes. For clarification: It is also not awful or garbage as it is just weaker and for the second half I would give an 8/10 if not even higher. It could also be that many viewers have abandoned the show after a few episodes because of this. A weaker first season is common in many science fiction shows as the people involved have to get used to the characters, lore and worldbuilding. With more experience or run time the stories get better, the characters get more depth atop of defined characteristics and the lore / worldbuilding improves as the creators know better what works and what to avoid. To be sacrilegious and make a Star Trek comparison for Star Wars it was the same for “The Next Generation” and “Deep Space Nine” or to name another series for “Stargate” too. For the stories this season plays it safe and well. We got decent to good stories and well done action. However it does not wow me enough to rate it higher overall. Again I must clarify that this season has it highlights especially at the second half. For the characters we got some good set ups, character development and some inside views for factions, cultures and institutions. For me the Clone Wars had created some very good characters that I enjocey, cared for and gave immersion. Ahsok Tano is the equivalent of Harley Quinn from Batman the animated series. She became a fan favorite (and one of mine too) and transcended her initial appearance. Also I like Captain Rex, Kit Fisto, Wullf Yularen, Asajj Ventress and of cause Cad Bane who is a force to be recognized and a one of my favorite additions. I will only name characters here that appear in this season (There are far more great characters but these do not show up in this season). I must remark that General Grivous was a far more intimidating character in his former incarnation but got demoted to this. His backstory is actually tragic and worth knowing. His hatred against the Republic is understandable. This season lays some good foundations and the characters improve / develop in the later half and more in later seasons. I must point out that some characters are a bit bland in this season like Mace Windu until the final episodes, Kit Fisto or Aayla Secura for example (Borderline foe Aayla Secura as I think they could have done more with her). I must warn you that they have some episodes with Jar Jar Binks. He is mostly tolerable and I like him in one episode but his first appperance is awful. For the animations I will praise the show. Everything looks amazingly well. It aged good and the unique style is well done. My complaint with the animations is that I find the faces of some characters need a bit time to get used too. Soundtrack is done really well and enhances the atmosphere (= No complaints). I have another complaint character wise. Anakin as General committed a serious war crime in the episode “Storm over Ryloth”. This is never correctly addressed and he deserved serve punishment for breaking his word and betrayal of the rules (I am a bit vague here to avoid spoilers). This is no valid tactical move and harms his side as it can be used against them in many ways (Remember what you can justify as Separatist because of this. They / He lost the (moral) high ground here to make a bad pun. Overall season 1 has a weaker start and great second half. It lays a solid foundation for later seasons. The second half is definitely a lot better and an easy recommendation. My favorite episodes for season 1 were “Ambush” for its set up idea, challenge and resolution. “Defenders of Peace” for the interesting clash of ideology and climax. “Trespass” for dealing with an interesting humanly problem, politics and solution. “Blue Shadow Virus” and “Mystery of a thousand Moos” which are connected for the idea, set up, Dr. Vindi, Jaybo Hood and the resolve of the characters. “Innocents on Ryloth” and “Liberty of Ryloth” tell a good story about the price of war, conflicts and compromise. Finally the last episode “Hostage Crisis” is a masterpiece. Good story, pacing, first appearance of Cad bane and climatic action.
This first season seem of The Clone Wars is very kid-friendly and can be hard to really like, especially the first with the childish actions of Ahsoka Tano and mostly flat and unconvincing dialogue.
George Lucas and ”his” projects continue to submerge in quality.
The journey in the galaxy far, far away continues where the somewhat bad; theatrical film left of. We follow several different characters during the infamous ’Clone Wars’ and see many different perspectives of the epic war. There isn't a specific focus on a specific individual, just the war as a whole. The characters as often expressed in a very plot-centric way and there isn't any time for feel nor understanding to them; it’s obvious that George Lucas was deeply involved with this project. They aren't alive and we don't really get to know them. The dialogs are just as Lucas-ish as ’The Phantom Menace’; many are reused, forced, too fact-based and very reaction-ish. The adventures of the main antagonists can be very entertaining but also draggy between different episodes. The plot can be smooth and really good but all to often very rushed, stupid and boring. It doesn't get any better that the whole show isn't in a chronological order, poor kids that are new to the show and can't hang along. Such a smart choice by the writers! The show still got some bright spots like great cinematography, many inside-jokes and connections to the films, and the plot can be good from time to time. Still; the CGI can be very depressing and the show tries very hard to be entertaining but it really isn't. There’s no empathy to the dry and almost non-existing characters nor any real entertainment to the plot. This first season might work for you, but wont for others. But for me is it still somewhat okay to watch, but nothing I would watch if it wasn't due to the near presence of ’The Force Awakens’.
My overall personal rating for each episode is 7.17/10.
Personal rating: 6/10
Critical rating: 4/10