Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 7 (2020) Review

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 7 (2020) Review

 After many years and a big buildup we have finally seen the 7th and final season of The Clone Wars and I have finished the season and here is my review. The premise of the season sees Ahsoka attempt to move on from her exile from the Jedi while Captain Rex attempts to prepare his troops for the end of the war. 

Main Character

Even though the first few seasons focused on Anakin Skywalker in my opinion the real main character of the Clone Wars is easily that of Ahsoka as we see her story really develop through our eyes. From the movie where she is introduced as this young padawan to this season where she is more of this conflicted person who isn't exactly sure of her place in this war but also wants to help people and do things the Jedi won't. Her character is so well done this season and I think the way her arc ends this season is done flawlessly and really gives a payoff for really 12 years of a character on this show. 

Supporting Characters

The other original character that gets a great story arc is that of Captain Rex. To see his characrter arc from the movie to now is enthralling. This season alone you see his character go through all types of emotions, I think the point if this show was to make you care about The Clone Troopers and I really cared about Rex this season and thought he had a really interesting story. Maul was a character introduced in The Phantom Menace but in my opinion he didn't become an interesting character till he returned on this show. His character is very menacing but he is a great opposite to Ahsoka and there stories are fascinating, they are both thrust into the limelight away from there masters and you see Mauls own plans and how they affect the story. Anakin & Obi-Wan are in this season less but they are well handled, ties to Anakin's eventual turn are still here and are heavily implied. The relationship between Anakin & Ahsoka is pretty heartbreaking here and again it feels like a worthy payoff for the show.

Story

The show has two great story arcs in it, seeing Rex and The Bad Batch's story was great showing the development of Rex and how the clones really differ at this point. Then Ahsoka's character plot is fascinating, this could be as a bit of a spoiler but the show comes to the point of crossing over with Revenge Of The Sith and the way it is handled is truly emotional. Plus with it being the end of the show is has to have a satisfying ending which this show truly does and it is handled perfectly. Though I have an issue with the story being the middle story with Ashoka hanging out with the Martinez sisters, as much as I like Ahsoka as a character I just didn't care for this story and it takes up way too many episodes with very little payoff in my opinion. 

Script

The script is brilliant this season, the drama feels much more mature this season and there are some truly gutwrenching moments that even though we have been expecting them I thought they were handled brilliantly. Also when used the humour is better this season and makes the characters feel much more human and a more complete package for the characters which previous seasons have lacked.

Style

The style of the show is the best ever for sure, it is crazy to see how the animation has developed from the movie to now. The characters feel more alive and the action scenes are brilliant to watch. The lightsaber fight between Maul & Ashoka is memorable and a great moment which will stand out for many years to come. The show also benefits from having only 12 episodes and it flows much better then any of the other seasons for sure.

Overall

Overall, this is easily the best ever season of the show it ends brilliantly and it really makes the 12 year journey feel worth it and this is easily one of the best Star Wars things around and I think may lead to Star Wars trying to nail more animated shows for sure.

Rating - 9/10 

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 6 (2014) Review

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 6 (2014) Review

 In prep for watching the new season of The Clone Wars, I have finally made it to the end by watching the sixth season of the show and here is my review for the season. The premise of the season sees Yoda have to learn new ways to master the force while a clone trooper finds out a dark secret about the war. 

Main Character

This season of the show hasn't got a large lead but the character I saw in the lead was that of Yoda, a character that hasn't been used that much on the show until this season. I really enjoyed his arc at the back end of the season and it does a really good job in humanising Yoda a bit, in the films we are led to believe Yoda is unbeatable but this season shows there are certain things that can affect him and I appreciated it. 

Supporting Characters

Clone Trooper Fives is the other main character this season and I also really like his arc, it adds so much context to Order 66 in Revenge Of The Sith and makes the clones an even more sympathetic group then the show had previously done. We see more of Chancellor Palpatine this season and I thought the season showed his twisted motivations and obvious deception well, we really start to see his plans take place here. Anakin, Obi-Wan, Mace Windu and Padme all have entertaining lesser roles this season but it is nice to see some of the other characters get the spotlight this season. 

Story

The two main stories involving Fives and Yoda are really interesting and pretty fascinating, they don't have the best action but the intrigue and mystery is much more exciting. However, the middle ground of episodes are more boring, focusing on the political side and magical side of the franchise and it just is not handled that well and it makes the season feel very uneven. 

Script

The script is good this season for the most part, the drama involving the two main arcs is really well handled and it makes you question the complexity of the characters and also whether the Jedi are immune to the criticism they get. Though the humour doesn't work very well, the inclusion of Jar Jar Binks for a few episodes is really grinding and it frustrated me and made me want to go back to the more serious scripting we recieve in the other arcs. 

Style 

The style of the season has it's shortest amount of episodes and it was a good thing, it made the best stories stand out and be very memorable to watch and remember. However, in that case the weaker stories are highlighted as well and that is an issue, plus the action scenes are probably the least interesting of the show so far.

Overall

Overall, this is a good sixth season of the show, it feels like it takes more time with its supporting characters and has some interesting story arcs for sure, but it also has some weaker stories which lowers it to just a good season.

Rating - 7/10 

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 5 (2012) Review

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 5 (2012) Review

 With the new season almost completed I am close to finishing my re-watch of the show and here is my review for the 5th season of The Clone Wars. The premise of the season sees Obi-Wan Kenobi attempt to stop Maul & Savage while The Jedi comes up with ways to keep the separatists at bay.

Main Character

For the previous 4 seasons the main character of the show has been Anakin Skywalker but not this season, it is clear that Ahsoka Tano is the main character. It is really interesting seeing her development across not only the start of the show to now but this season alone, she has some great character development and she is easily the character you are supposed to root for but she also has some conflicted feelings about the Jedi and the war.

Supporting Characters

Obi-Wan Kenobi is the main supporting character and his story arc involving Maul is possibly one of the most interesting one of the season. It also adds depth to his character as you see he has some issues with the rest of the Jedi and it shows he isn't as loyal to the Jedi way as the films make at and he does have more of a unique personality. Anakin isn't a particularly large character this season but he comes into the forefront in the last few episodes and it continues to show his slow dissent against the Jedi and you kind of see his point of view this season as the Jedi do take part in some questionable things. Maul is in more of the forefront this season and I think he is a brilliant addition, you see how much he wants revenge on Obi-Wan but I love seeing him really build up his plan as it shows the mindset of Maul compared to other villains on the show. A shoutout to Hondo who has a bigger role at the beginning of the season and he is always an entertaining fixture and he added some real entertainment during that time of the show.

Story

The story has some truly memorable story arcs this season, the highest highs of this season are truly brilliant you see some really emotional elements to the story and adding to the layers of the characters. One thing I will say is that I feel like we spend a bit too long with some of the less interesting story arcs and that if they had been a few episodes shorter then that would have made sure the story was nothing but top quality, finishing with a truly gut-punching season finale that is expertly executed.

Script

The script has some truly memorable dramatic moments and dialogue this season that really makes you care about the characters and adds real drama that honestly is more dramatic then the entirety of the first two prequel films. The humour in the episodes is used works and I find myself enjoying the slight change of pace that these moments provided.

Style

The style of the show has some great action sequences, it focuses less on the huge battles that previous seasons have and focuses on the smaller more personal battles that for me at this point in the shows run is far more effective. As mentioned though even though this is definitely the best season yet and I appreciated the 2 less episodes I think a few more could have been cut and we would have had an even better season of the show.

Overall

Overall, this is a great season of the show and does a better job adding an emotional wait to the actions that the characters take which is much more effective.

Rating - 8/10

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 4 (2011) Review

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 4 (2011) Review

 The next season of The Clone Wars I have watched is the fourth season and here is my review. The premise of the season sees the Jedi attempt to protect there colonies from different elements such as betrayal, treachary and slavery.

Main Character

Anakin Skywalker is the lead character of the season and I felt like his character has some good development this season. He deals with some pretty heavy subject matters that are clear indicators to his darker side, this is the season where this is explored the most and you can see how his morality is challenged and how it is leading to darker things in his future. 

Supporting Characters

Obi-Wan Kenobi is pretty absent from the first half of the season but he comes to the forefront in the 2nd half and he has a really compelling story arc. What I like about his character on the show is that it shows a more morally complex version of the character and that continues this season with the most complex story yet that makes you think if Obi-Wan was truly honest in the later films. Ashoka is once again a crucial part of the show and once again she has a good character, she doesn't have as much development this season but she is a fun character to watch and when she is given the spotlight she does a good job. The show does a great job in making the supporting characters feel more important, Captain Rex, Asajj Ventress & General Grievous are given moments to really shine and it helps them be seen as important characters.

Story

The story has a much better flow and structure to it then the previous seasons, the story arcs are pretty much all interesting and really delve into some deeper themes such as I mentioned slavery which is an intense subject. There are plenty of episodes but as the season goes on you become more and more interested in the plot and how things are progressing leading to a great season finale.

Script

The script has some great dramatic dialogue, it focuses on the hardships of war and the emotional depths that the characters have to go through. However, it lacks the charm that some of the previous seasons had and maybe it would have been nice to see a bit more charm in the show.

Style

The style as mentioned before has a much darker feel to it and it works, the battles feel more brutal and action packed and it makes this show really feel like a war. Also to mention, this season seems to run in the correct order which really hurt the previous seasons so that is a positive for the season. However, this season has 22 episodes and if I am being really critical I wish like 4 episodes from towards the beginning of the season were cut and that would have made it easily the best season of the show yet.

Overall

Overall, this is just about the best season of the show and it sets up some things really well to hopefuly lead to even more better stories.

Rating - 8/10 

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 3 (2010) Review

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 3 (2010) Review 

 Continuing on me catching up with The Clone Wars before the new season I have now watched Season 3 of The Clone Wars and here is my review for the season. The premise of the season sees The Jedi attempt The Sepratists from destroying the clone factories on Kamino destroying future generations of Clone troopers. 

Main Character

Anakin Skywalker is again the main character of the season and he had even more development this season, the show does a great job of foreshadowing his future dark turn without going too far with it. He is more deep then the rest of the jedi characters and you can see how even though he is a committed Jedi there is doubt in his mind and that he is morally a bit more flexible then the other characters. 

Supporting Characters

Ashoka has more development as a character this season too, you can tell her and Anakin are becoming more similar as characters and she doesn't have as complex a mind set as Anakin but is slowly getting there. She is clearly maturing as a character and it has been nice to see her going from this slightly annoying character to a wiser more complex character. Obi-Wan and Anakin's friendship again works this season and is an integral part of the show, he doesn't have as much story or depth this season but he is still an enjoyable character and a good part of the show. For the previous two seasons we learned nothing about Asajj Ventress but this season does a much better job with the character. You learn more about her backstory and her motivations and it fleshed her character out quite a bit. Also we are introduced to a new character in Savage Opress and I thought his character was interesting and a different villain then we are used to as a character on this show. 

Story

The 2nd half of the season for me is excellent, there are some fascinating story elements and it does a great job of expanding the world and adding layers to the characters as a whole. However, the first half of the season is an absolute mess, it is not as interesting at all and mostly deals with the political side of the war. Also it is clear the episodes are shown out of order, as there are characters who died in previous seasons back in some episodes and it makes it really hard to follow and work out what time we are in. 

Script

The script has some decent drama to it, there are some darker scenes this season and some darker dramatic moments that adds the depth to the characters. But the humour wasn't as well executed this season and it kind of felt out of place in this darker season of the show.

Style 

As mentioned this is a darker season of the show and I must stress this is not a kids show, it is very dark and really illustrates war very well. You see plenty of characters die and it is very effective and makes you really feel like this is a war. But as mentioned the pacing of the show is prety messy, you have to get through the first half of the season to get to the better parts of the show and some people just won't do that.

Overall

Overall, this is a good season of the show, it takes this show on a darker turn but I just wish there was fewer episodes with higher quality and I wish they were just shown in the correct order as it holds it back. 

Rating - 7/10 

 

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 2 (2009) Review

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 2 (2009) Review 

 Continuing my prep for the new season I have now watched Season 2 of The Clone Wars and this is my review for the show. The premise of the season sees The Jedi of The Republic have to deal with threats outside of the Sepratists starting with The Bounty Hunter Cad Bane. 

Main Character

The main character of the season is Anakin Skywalker and I thought his character was better this season. He still has the reckless and daring attitude that he had in the past but this season added more depth to the role, you start to get small incling into his evil turn in the future and it is handled very well and is clear to be a slow build. 

Supporting Characters

Obi-Wan Kenobi is the main supporting character and the relationship between him and Anakin is great and it really adds depth to their relationship which really helps build depth to their meetings later on in the franchise. Also, there is some added depth to his character that really gets you thinking about him in his later appearances. Ashoka Tano is used in the show a bit more sparingly but her character develops this season and I think the use of her character makes sure she doesn't transition to becoming an annoying character. There are some entertaining villains in the season, with the standouts being Cad Bane & Aurra Sing though I would like to have seen more of them in their roles. 

Story

The story is more cohesive this season with fewer filler episodes. The mini arcs usually fill a few episodes at a time but it is more interesting last season as it is not just watching Clones vs droids every episode. Also the story develops to some more mature themes and morality issues, the Jedi and Republic aren't portrayed as just simple good guys and it makes you question some of their actions and their moral compass, it does a better job here then it does in the films. 

Script

The script has some good humour and drama to it, but I felt like none of it really stood out. There wasn't a moment or a specific set of dialogue that stood out and made the characters feel more human then they are. 

Style

The show has some good action scenes to it and the different settings makes it feel fresh and different in the different arcs of the show. However, like last season there is 22 episodes and this is just too many, I think it could have been cut down even a few and it would have been really high quality and wouldn't sometimes drag like it does. 

Overall

Overall, this is a much improvement on the first season and does a great job of building the Star Wars world and make it feel more then just the war between The Republic and The Sepratists. 

Rating - 8/10 

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 1 (2008) Review

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 1 (2008) Review

 With the new season of The Clone Wars upon us I have decided to rewatch the whole series and here is my review for the first season of the show. The premise of the season sees Anakin Skywalker, Ashoka Tano, Obi-Wan Kenobi and fellow Jedi's attempt to defeat the Seperatist forces led by General Grievous, Count Dooku & Asajj Ventress.

Main Character

Not suprisingly Anakin Skywalker is the main character on this show and as I mentioned in my Clone Wars Movie review it is really entertaining seeing the character in his prime as a Jedi Knight and we really see why he was such a respected Jedi and why both sides were keen on him being on their side. However, his character is pretty bland and actually at times quite annoying, it seems for somebody so experienced he makes plenty of mistakes and it seems like the other characters are always right over him which does hurt his character. 

Supporting Characters

Obi-Wan Kenobi is the main supporting character on the show and his dynamic with Anakin is interesting as it shows them as friends more which we less in the films so it does help make that arc feel more realistic in the films especially Revenge Of The Sith. Ashoka is back as Anakin's apprentice, even though that makes no sense as established in Revenge Of The Sith and she is a fun character, she has probably the best development of any character in the show as she really grows form her place as padawan to a more senior Jedi and it is nice to see. Captain Rex is the main clone Trooper on the show and he is great, he is battle tested but you also see his loyalty to his Jedi and it makes him a character that you care about and want to see survive. The villains share some screen time but I would say Grievous is probably the main one and even though his character is made to look very weak you find a bit more about his character and how he ended up the way he is and it interested me enough, but he needs to get the upper hand more in future seasons. 

Story

The story shows the depcition of the war very well, it literally feels like the entire galaxy is at war and that there is really nothing but the war which keeps are heroes always heading to the next battle. However, this show is very episodic, it lacks a season long narrative to keep you invested and focuses either on one epsidode arcs or at most a three part story. This is showed by the pilot and the season finale's that feel like isolated episodes and don't really connect to anything else which is disappointing. 

Script

The script for the show does a good job at making even the Jedi feel more natural and a bit more comedic then the films make them making them more interesting in the process. However, the show decides to make the battle droids comedic relief and they are just cringeworthy and not funny at all and it also takes away from the severity of the battles. 

Style 

The style of the show looks great when it comes to the action scenes, it is great seeing The Jedi in full force and seeing the clones and droids engage each other in huge scaled battles either on ground or in space. But I will say this season has 22 episodes and I felt like even though they are only 25 minutes long there are a few episodes that could have been cut and would have made a better contained story. Also and this is something the show can't help but it is sometimes difficult to get invested in the battles when you know the main characters can't die as they are going to be in Revenge Of The Sith. 

Overall

Overall, this is an okay first season of the show, you can tell they are getting then hang of the show and it is entertaining to watch but I hope it does improve vastly in the future.

Rating - 6/10 

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Movie (2008) Review

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Movie (2008) Review

 After finishing the original trilogy and the prequels George Lucas decided to pursue a passion project in creating an animated series set during The Clone Wars. Now this film is forgotten by most people but it was released in cinemas and was basically a long pilot for the show and introduced Star Wars fans to what the show would look like, I have watched this film tonight and this is my review for it. The premise of the film sees Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin's new Padawan Ahsoka Tano attempt to rescue Jabba The Hutt's son from The Separatists led by Count Dooku & Asajj Ventress.

Main Character

The main character of this film is Anakin Skywalker and similar to what I said in my Revenge Of The Sith review it is nice to see him in his prime as a Jedi leading armies as we never really see it in the films. He still has the edge to him that the character has in the films and it feels like he is not your conventional Jedi and he is getting frustrated more and more which obviously leads to his character in Revenge Of The Sith. The other main character is Ahsoka Tano, she has a lot of charm about her but she is one of those characters that she really rides the line between charming and annoying but I think she just comes across as charming. The relationship between Ahsoka & Anakin develops well for the film and you can tell it will have the legs as the show progresses. 

Supporting Characters

Obi-Wan Kenobi is a more supporting role in the film but I thought he had some pretty funny moments and good one liners to make him feel like the Ewan McGregor character in the films. He doesn't have any character development really, but it is entertaining to watch him in the role and you see why his character has plenty of reputation as a big warrior in the films. This film introduced Captain Rex the clone who leads the groups forces and he is awesome in the film, he distinguishes himself from the other clones with a gruff edge and toughness which makes him a great character to watch with a bit more personality then a regular clone trooper. But there are some characters that don't do anything for me in this film, Padme is literally introduced in the film with 20 minutes to go and she plays an important role but it did nothing for me and it actually feels like what she does doesn't really fit her character at this current time. Also Ventress is pretty much the main villain for the film and even though she has a decent lightsaber fight but she turns up out of nowhere in the film with very little backstory and for this film you know nothing about her and it hurts her role in the film. 

Story

Now it is very clear how they made the story for the film, it seemed to be 3 episodes of the show mashed together to attempt to create a story. The main story of seeing the Jedi and Separatists fight for Jabba's affection is interesting and it is a good development between Anakin & Ahsoka. However, I hated the way this film ends, as mentioned Padme's arc doesn't start till the end and she comes in and fixes everything and it just feels a very cheap way out and clear evidence that this story was meant to be a new episode but they had to force it into this film. 

Script 

The script actually has some more entertaining lines in it then the prequels making these Jedi actually feel like human beings and real people which the films mostly failed to do. However, I felt like the drama didn't quite work, it didn't get me emotionally invested enough to care enough about the situation.

Style

This film is really unique looking and especially in the action and battle scenes it looks fantastic. It really feels like a war is going on and I liked how it gave both armies unique looks and exciting scenes. Though, there are times when the animation doesn't hold up and it feels like it was unfinished and it made me a cringe a little bit.

Overall

Overall this is an above average animated film, it shows the clone wars at its highest and is a good way to show what the show will be about. Though this film doesn't quite work as a film and feels like it could have worked as the first few episodes of the show, if you are a Star Wars fan and haven't seen this film then it could be worth a watch but don't rush to watch it. 

Rating - 6/10