Star Wars: The Clone Wars orginal and new - thescoop's Blog

thescoop's Blog

Star Wars: The Clone Wars orginal and new

Posted on December 13, 2008 at 11:23 AM.

Its been a while but today I return to my enjoyment of the Star Wars saga. Before I jump into Star Wars Episode III I figured it would be a good idea to revisit the original and new Clone Wars Series.

Well start first with Gene Tartakovsky's series. It was broken into three seasons or two volumes on DVD. The original series consists of 10 three-minute installments for Season 1 and 10 three-minute installments for Season 2 (later known as Volume 1), and five 12-to-15 minute installments for Season 3 (later called Volume 2). The 25 episodes are mostly comprised of energetic set-piece battles. Since much emphasis is placed on action, the story and plot is less developed than in the films. Despite this, it can be argued that the second season focused more on Anakin Skywalker's story.

The series follows the Jedi on their exploits fighting Dooku's separatist confederation. Many characters from the films are also featured prominently in the series, such as Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, Mace Windu, Chancellor Palpatine, Count Dooku, General Grievous, C-3PO, R2-D2 and Padm� Amidala. Other episodes feature minor players from the films, such as Taylor Kaat, Kit Fisto, Ki-Adi-Mundi, Shaak Ti and Aayla Secura.

Season One and Season Two/DVD Volume One - These seasons feature one major storyline, season 1 (episodes 1-10), surrounded by a series of many battles. Count Dooku holds auditions for a bounty hunter on the planet Rattatak by pitting them against each other in a battle arena. Asajj Ventress kills every one of the bounty hunters and is sent on a mission to assassinate Anakin Skywalker. She engages him in a space battle, season 2 (episodes 11-20), through the streets of Muunilinst and eventually leading him into Yavin 4, where the two engage in a lightsaber duel. Anakin emerges the victor, but by means of rage and fear, the path to the Dark Side of the Force.

Apart from the main storyline, many battles ensue, including Mace Windu's fight on Dantooine, Obi-Wan fighting against bounty hunter Durge and the Banking Clan, Kit Fisto's battle against the Quarren on Mon Calamari, the adventures on Ilum and the Battle of Hypori in which General Grevious makes his first appearance in Star Wars media. He was an amazing force in this first appearance.

Season Three/DVD Volume Two - The third and last season of Star Wars: Clone Wars gives the audience a look at Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker's adventures in the Outer-Rim Territories as mentioned in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. Anakin is made a Jedi Knight and Coruscant comes under attack by the Confederacy of Independent Systems, as a diversion for General Grevious to sneak in and capture Chancellor Palpatine, leaving the series where Episode III begins.

The Tartakovsky series is fun, but very short. I love the final episode and how it goes right into Episode III. The few problems I have is just stuff like Count Dooku floating in one episode. Basic stuff like that. Over all just good fun.

The new series was launched with the pilot in the big screen. The movie is fine if viewed as a pilot and not as stand alone movie. It has more cute and kiddie stuff due to it being aimed at a younger crowd, but I'm still enjoying it.

The new series is set between episodes 22 and 25 of the first series. It fills more of the gap of the clone wars and is far longer as each episode is 22 minutes in length.

At first I wasn't sure about Anakin having a Padawan, but Ahsoka Tano is growing on me. I'll be very interested to see what happens to her as the series goes on.

Just ten episodes in out of what Lucas has said will be 100, we've most have been good episodes, but three have been standout episodes. Those three are Rookies, which is all about a group of new batch clones who have never seen combat.

The next standout episode was Cloak of Darkness. This episode followed one of the weakest episodes that followed Jar Jar. It showcased the sith and was followed by the equally strong The Lair of General Grevious. I won't give away too much as I'm sure some of you might be checking out these episodes for the first time yourself.

If you're a Star Wars fan do yourself a favor and watch. The battle droids are annoying, but the show itself is fun. It really has me looking forward to the live action series.

The one thing I'm hoping for is Lucas to give the original saga some love. Why not do a series for us older fans with Luke, Han Chewie and Darth running around? I know I'd be up for it.

Anyway, next up will be Episode III. Sorry for the long wait. Just been really busy.