So the Bad Batch has just started airing and I've been enjoying it a lot so far. The only problem is I haven't reviewed The Clone Wars yet! I watched most of the show as a kid and don't quite remember enough to review it like I can most of the shows I've already seen, so I decided to rewatch the show in its entirety. Since unlike the 2003 series, this is more of an arc-driven anthology series, I decided to structure these reviews a bit differently. Instead, I'll be reviewing each arc individually, ending with a general review for the season as a whole:
Clone Wars Movie: This doesn't count as a part of the season, but I did want to give my general opinion on it. It's not great. I think it's still worth watching for the introduction of Ahsoka and Rex, which is actually still pretty good, but it definitely feels like a bunch of TV episodes crammed together. I feel like this movie would work alright as the first few episodes of Season 1, but with shaky animation and an uneven tone, this absolutely shouldn't have been a movie. Many TV shows have a rough start, but when you cram said rough start into a single movie, it makes the flaws far more apparent.
Ambush: If you didn't know there was a movie, this would seem like a weird pilot episode, focusing on Yoda rather than, say, Ahsoka or Rex? The main premise is that Yoda and a bunch of clones are battling with Ventress and her droids, there's not much to this one. The abundance of humor means I don't take much of the fighting all that seriously, and I feel like the show wants us to think Yoda is this super smart character when it's more that the droids are just plain stupid. The animation is also a bit shaky, but what really surprised was the sheer amount of close-up dutch angles throughout this season. It gets better by Season 7, but it definitely adds to why the earlier seasons looked so off. There is one scene I really like, though, the one where Yoda asks the clones to remove their helmets because they're different in spirit. It's an oddly mature scene for the episode that solidifies a major theme about the clones' individuality. Even more, the final battle with the droids is a pretty sweet showcase of Yoda's abilities. As a whole, this is a pretty goofy and low stakes first episode, but it's surprisingly iconic, and packs a ton of potential.
2/5 Stars
Malevolence Arc: Okay, this is a big improvement over Ambush. There's still a lot of goofy humor on part of the droids, but this arc actually features a lot of the show's major players (Ahsoka, Anakin, Grievous, etc.), packs a ton of action, and has a surprisingly grim first episode. Rising Malevolence is a great episode because it depicts the titular ship as this terrifying force that leaves Plo Koon and his clones in near constant danger, hell it even made me scared of the battle droids! It's a dark, tense episode, but it also solidifies the clone theme and gives more Ahsoka backstory. Shadow Of Malevolence, on the other hand, is a pretty dull series of space fights that brings back the goofy battle droid humor. It does have a solid emotional hook about the casualties the battle caused, but otherwise it's not nearly as good. Ending off the arc, Destroy Malevolence lets us see the power trio of Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Padme, and it's pretty fun! It's probably the most lighthearted of the three episodes and definitely has its cheesy lines of dialogue, but the action is fun and the whole episode has a kinetic pace. Rising is by far the best of the three, but this is an entertaining and varied arc that feels like a stronger start to the series than Ambush was. Oh, and the music is actually really good here!
3/5 Stars
Rookies: This was the episode that sold many people on the series, including myself. Similarly to Rising Malevolence, this is a darker and tense episode that tasks its focal characters with facing impossible odds, this time being a group of commando droids who are far more effective than your standard battle droids. The clones in Rookies, at least the ones who survive, are some of the most important in the series, and all get their own interesting personalities and moments of bonding. The voice acting is especially impressive, Dee Bradley Baker has to deliver most of the lines himself in the same voice while giving each clone their own identity. I also like how dark this episode is, there are a few off-screen deaths in Rising, but the death scenes in Rookies are brutal, and they happen to characters that you actually get to know throughout the episode. Hevy's sacrifice, in particular, is such a good goddamn scene no matter how much you watch it, and is the first sign of just how dark this series can get.
5/5 Stars
Search For R2-D2 Arc: I remember really loving this arc as a kid because it really had everything young me could've wanted from Star Wars. It had an engaging hook, fun action, a tense lightsaber fight with Grievous, and a focus on R2-D2, one of my favorite characters. R2 even got a fight scene of his own this episode, how could I not love it? Well, rewatching it, this storyline definitely didn't need to be two episodes long, especially knowing how padded out Downfall Of A Droid is. It's not a bad episode by any means, but there are a lot of scenes just there to unsubtly foreshadow that R2's replacement is actually an evil astromech droid, it's pretty dull and predictable. On the other hand, Duel Of The Droids is way more eventful and entertaining, and years later, I'd still call it one of my favorite episodes of the season. Even if it's not the darkest or most substantial, there's a great sense of fun throughout, and the action is some of the best in the series yet. Anakin vs the Magnaguards is badass, Ahsoka vs Grievous is tense and makes him a genuine threat due to Ahsoka's lack of experience, and as goofy as it is, I still absolutely adore the astromech fight. And once again, the music's pretty top-notch. Overall, this arc doesn't offer anything quite as compelling as Rising or Rookies, but it's a fun time if you want something a bit more action-packed.
3/5 Stars
Nute Gunray Arc: This arc is odd because while these episodes follow after each other, they're pretty standalone for the most part, each featuring different characters and thus have drastically different levels in quality:
Bombad Jedi is an episode about Jar Jar Binks trying to save Padme after she gets kidnapped, and while it's pretty childish and unfun, it's actually not quite as bad as I remember it, to be honest. Jar Jar still has an annoying voice and I'd much rather not have a whole episode focused on him, but giving him C-3PO to play off of and exploring his klutziness a bit, he's a bit more tolerable. And once he goes full Jedi mode, he stays surprisingly silent for most of the second half of the episode. Padme's subplot was probably the highlight though, I like that she escapes prison entirely on her own, the world-building was pretty neat, and the twist about Nute Gunray's capture was pretty sweet too. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of aspects about this episode that are just insufferable and none of the jokes manage to hit at all, but Bombad Jedi isn't quite the dumpster fire I remember it as. Still, it sticks out like a sore thumb compared to the next two...
Cloak Of Darkness is like a polar opposite of Bombad Jedi. It's dark, low in bad humor, and ends with the bad guys winning, all the while starting to give Ahsoka some of the development she needs. This episode forces Ahsoka to make a bunch of hard decisions, and by the end of the episode, I was left wondering if she made the right choices. Argyus was a pretty cool character, and his sudden death by Ventress was shocking. It's great that the show acknowledges that the villains have been losing lately, something that continues in the next episode. And of course, the action is amazing, especially the big three-way lightsaber fight between Ahsoka, Luminari, and Ventress. Speaking of which, Luminari is a pretty sick character, she has a great dynamic with Ahsoka and I'd be perfectly willing to see her again. While Cloak Of Darkness is definitely another one of the show's darker and stronger episodes, it's nothing compared to Lair Of Grievous.
Lair Of Grievous is a welcome change of pace for the series, focusing entirely on Kit Fisto, his Padawan, and a few clones as they try to escape Grievous's lair. The colors are muted, and the whole episode takes on a distinct horror tone (I was actually terrified of this one as a kid). Looking back, what makes the Nute Gunray Arc so cohesive in spite of everything is the overarching theme of characters proving themselves after a series of failures, between Jar Jar, Ventress, and Grievous. As a result, it was super interesting to see the titular villain try to achieve a victory as everyone else tells him he sucks. It helps that we get to see where Grievous lives, how he repairs himself, and even statues of his human form. He may not be as ruthlessly terrifying as the 2003 version, but Grievous is surprisingly fascinating in this series. I also like the Padawan Vebb, a perfect example of what happens if you take your recklessness too far, and how Ahsoka could turn out if she doesn't mature. This and Cloak Of Darkness were excellent episodes, and if it weren't for Bombad, this would easily be the best arc yet.
3/5 Stars (4/5 if it weren't for Bombad Jedi)
Florrum Arc: So remember when I said Bombad Jedi wasn't that bad even if it had Jar Jar in it? Yeah, that doesn't apply to The Gungan General, this episode was rough. I could buy Jar Jar's role in Bombad Jedi because he was more assisting in Padme's escape than anything else, but him saving a bunch of Jedi and leading a clone army is just too much for me. And without anyone to play off of, Jar Jar just comes off as insanely annoying in these episodes. Bombad felt like the writers put effort into making Jar Jar more likable, but this one just plays all of his flaws straight. And it's a shame because seeing the Jedi and Sith forced to interact and eventually team up is actually a super cool concept. The banter between Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Dooku was pretty fun, and I would've loved a single episode about just that. However, with Dooku Captured being nothing but buildup and The Gungan General being an awful Jar Jar Binks episode, this was easily the worst arc yet.
1/5 Stars
Maridun Arc: This arc was fine, if a bit unmemorable. Its main storyline of the cast crashing onto a planet, freeing it, and leaving is a bit standard for the series, but there are a few things I like. Aayla Secura is another cool Jedi who finally gets the storyline she deserves, Anakin's sacrifice was great, and best of all, I love how thought-provoking these episodes are. Jedi Crash explores just how morally right the Jedi are, if they're participating in the war and violence, are they really good or are they just the least bad? This episode is also the first time when Ahsoka questions Jedi tradition, which comes up a lot later on in the series. Defenders Of Peace deals with pacifism and the unfortunate reality that sometimes you might have to let go of your beliefs for your own safety. I don't think it's handled super subtly, but I admire that these episodes at least tried to say something. Story-wise, this arc is fairly generic, but it's the first to really delve into the moral complexities of war, making it a lot better than it could have been.
3/5 Stars
Trespass: Similarly to Defenders Of Peace, this is another episode focused around mature themes, this time being colonialism. While I think Trespass handles its themes better than Defenders Of Peace did, it handles it with all the subtlety of a massive sledgehammer. The story is predictable, and I generally never found this one too memorable. The visuals on the other hand are pretty fantastic. The icey planet of Orto Plutonia is visually striking, and I love how each of the characters have their own special winter clothes. The battle scenes are more brutal and terrifying than usual, and I really like how Anakin and Obi-Wan mostly just play the role of diplomat, never drawing their sabers once. I wish there was a bit more to say here, but I can't really think of anything. Trespass is just that average for the series.
3/5 Stars
The Hidden Enemy: This episode, on the other hand, was pretty cool. It's surprising given how it mostly serves as a prequel to the not great movie, but I always did think Christophsis was a neat-looking planet. The Hidden Enemy is split up into two different storylines, both super fun and compelling. After a pretty disastrous ambush, Anakin and Obi-Wan track down Ventress while Rex and Cody try to find a traitor in their ranks. The Jedi storyline has some fun action and fight scenes along with great banter between Anakin and Obi-Wan, while the traitor subplot is far darker and more tense, ending with an incredibly thought-provoking question about how much free will the clones really have under the Jedi (speaking of which, I really do think the clones are the most interesting thing about this season). Overall, I'm a pretty big fan of this one. It's definitely on par with Rookies and Lair Of Grievous, even if it's not as emotionally resonant as the two, it's a great blend of action and intrigue that ends on a fascinating note.
4/5 Stars
Blue Shadow Virus Arc: I feel like I should have liked this story arc more than I did, it brings together the majority of the show's cast for this one big adventure. However, this was not that great, and that's for two major reasons. First of all, Jar Jar Binks's inclusion lead to a ton of bad and poorly-timed humor that just made the stakes feel so much lower, which applied to The Gungan General too. On the other hand, we get a second Gungan in the form of Peppi who actually isn't that bad? Her voice wasn't annoying, her comedic moments were actually kinda funny, and she can actually fight unlike Jar Jar. If this arc was just Blue Shadow Virus, it would have been fine, it did have a pretty fun action-heavy third act. However, Mystery Of A Thousand Moons feels like it artificially extended the storyline just for the sake of it without actually contributing anything. Even more than most of the two-parters this season, it absolutely should have and could have been one episode, and more than any of the episodes, these two just felt like a slog to watch.
1/5 Stars
Ryloth Arc: Now this is a good story arc. While the season has showed shades of trying to tackle mature themes of war, Ryloth is probably its best attempt. Storm of Ryloth is my personal favorite of the three because it serves as a wake-up call for Ahsoka when her reckless attitude gets nearly an entire squadron killed. I can't overstate how amazing this story decision is, even though this isn't the first time the good guys fail nor the first time casualties ensue, this was such a massive disaster that it triggers a permanent change in attitude for her to start taking things more seriously. It also has the insane way Anakin destroyed the blockade. Innocents Of Ryloth was my least favorite of the three, because if you know me, you know I'm not a big fan of plotlines where the characters have to take care of a young child (which Star Wars seems to do an awful lot? Like there's The Phantom Menace, The Mandalorian, and The Bad Batch all about this trope). It's not a bad episode though, the occupation of Ryloth are easily the worst thing the separatists have done this season and the show never handles it lightly. Finally, there's Liberty On Ryloth which is one of the most epic yet violent and horrifying episodes of the series, it's easily the show's largest battle to date. The separatists are at their most despicable here, which makes the big victory at the end all the more satisfying, and Mace Windu gets an epic bridge jumping scene to be more badass than in any scene in the prequel. Overall, this was a strong arc that's pretty good at worst and my favorite episode of the season at best.
4/5 Stars
Hostage Crisis: Being more of an anthology series rather than having an overarching storyline, The Clone Wars has always had some interesting season finales. Hostage Crisis works oddly well as an end to the season, revisiting a plot thread from the movie, introducing a new villain, and ending on a pretty big downer ending. There's a lot to like about this one, Cad Bane and his army of bounty hunters are badass, Anakin playing Die Hard is a ton of fun, the dark and violent tone is unlike anything the series has ever seen, and it's great that the villain wins. However, there is one big problem with this finale, it's not an end to Season 1, it's a taste of what to expect for Season 2, and doesn't feel all that satisfying as a result. Even more, the Ziro cliffhanger isn't resolved until Season 3! Hostage Crisis is a great episode, probably one of the best in the season, but I'm not all that sure if a Die Hard homage fits as a finale all that much.
4/5 Stars
Overall, Season 1 of The Clone Wars is fine. There are some pretty great episodes and moments, along with hints of the greatness to come, but nothing really sticks out here as amazing, which you can probably tell from the fact that I haven't given any of these arcs 5/5 stars aside from Rookies. For every great episode that dabbles with dark themes, fleshed-out character arcs, and genuine surprises, there's a weaker episode with poor comedy, unsubtle attempts at themes, and overlong story arcs. This has been a solid start to the series, but trust me when I say that it gets much, much better.
2/5 Stars
