The Clone Wars returns

The new season of The Clone Wars is released in the US tonight. For the first time in a very long time I'm really excited about new Star Wars content and cannot wait to get up in the morning to watch it.

For anyone who needs a recap on the previous 6 seasons:

https://youtu.be/czMCCuUlAZ8

Slydice

Deleted User wrote: »

The new season of The Clone Wars is released in the US tonight. For the first time in a very long time I'm really excited about new Star Wars content and cannot wait to get up in the morning to watch it.

For anyone who needs a recap on the previous 6 seasons:

https://youtu.be/czMCCuUlAZ8

Thanks! Recap was very useful. I'd forgotten some bits and I'm not sure if I'd forgotten or just hadn't noticed that Saw Gerrera was in Clone Wars.

Slydice

Slydice wrote: »

Thanks! Recap was very useful. I'd forgotten some bits and I'm not sure if I'd forgotten or just hadn't noticed that Saw Gerrera was in Clone Wars.

He pops up in Rebels too. Watched the first episode this morning, was pretty good. The weekly episode release is going to kill me though!

Slydice

Much bigger in my memory from Rebels cos it was so close to Rogue One. Maybe I found out the link to Clone Wars back then but forgot.

Anyway..

Episode 1: So GOOD! These new clones fit in just fine. The early part of the episode felt like it was borderline on giving too much "here's an explanation between characters that's actually just there to catch the audience up" but it was needed for the episode.

Slydice

2: The episode was grand.. kinda tided itself over getting from A to B.. then at the end

though.. jeez.. Echo really got done. Looks like some kind of implant hacked into his head. Not sure about his legs.

Slydice

Slydice wrote: »

2: The episode was grand.. kinda tided itself over getting from A to B.. then at the end

though.. jeez.. Echo really got done. Looks like some kind of implant hacked into his head. Not sure about his legs.

Thought it was an OK episode. Those new droids are an interesting design.

Slydice

3: Ah

poor aul Echo. I don't think he'll be the same. I wonder what the Techno Union guy meant by 'recoup our losses'

Slydice

4: Good episode! The scene at the end!

CastorTroy

Ahsoka rocking the flares. Were they flared dungarees?

This another multi part story?

Gbear

"Where'd you learn to fight like that?"
"My big brother taught me."

I didn't notice it in previous episodes this season, but there seemed to be a massive jump in the quality of animation in this episode. It was a little bit more anime-y, with Ahsoka doing wall running and so on, but the movement of the lifter droid, all the stuff going on in the background, the smoothness of the animation. It was by a distance the best produced episode we've seen yet. The only thing that looked as good was maybe the Umbara story arc with Jedi Master Pong Krell with all the neon pink and green colour schemes, the mist, and whatnot.

Before the Clone Wars was completed with had a few books and graphic novels, including the one where Ahsoka gets her white lightsabers. I wonder will they just predate those plotlines (Son of Dathomir, Dark Disciple, Ahsoka) or will there be some retconning.

I do hope we see Ventress again.

Slydice

5: Liking this side of the season!

CastorTroy wrote: »

Ahsoka rocking the flares. Were they flared dungarees?

This another multi part story?

Oh yes, I'd say so. Full on Filoni style!

Also it's not lost on me that she's landed on the Floor of the cancelled computer game.. from just before Disney bought Star Wars

Slydice

6: Decent episode. Get the feeling we're about to learn more about the Han Solo

Kessel Run. I wonder if we might even see Han Solo!

CastorTroy

We learned that in the Solo film, if I remember correctly.
Looking at the timeline, Solo took place between episodes 3 and 4 so would be after the events of The Clone Wars

Slydice

7:

Mandalorians! This has got to be some setup for season 2 of The Mandalorian!

The torture scene was a bit of a surprise.. and then the elevator fight.. looked like the soldier was gonna be decapitated!

CastorTroy

Slydice wrote: »

7:

Mandalorians! This has got to be some setup for season 2 of The Mandalorian!

The torture scene was a bit of a surprise.. and then the elevator fight.. looked like the soldier was gonna be decapitated!

Didn't even think about the torture but, yeah the guard getting killed by the elevator was a surprise even though it didn't actually show it.

Think there's a Mandalorian arc coming up. Going by the names in the credits, those Mandalorians were in Rebels.

As was pointed out, apart from the Mandalorian appearance the episode was pretty pointless since they just ended up right back where they were at the start of the episode.

Gbear

There's quite a lot that's already known about the general arc of the story, from the Ahsoka novel and elsewhere. Possible future

Maul is in charge of Black Sun and a few other crime organisations. He's at large, the last we saw (from the Son of Dathomir graphic novelisation of what they were probably planning for Clone Wars) he's probably somehow involved with the Pikes, and Bo Katan is the main Mandolorian we saw, I think. She'll basically recruit Ahsoka to help with the liberation of Mandalore from Maul's crew. The climax of the show will be the battle of Mandalore and the defeat of Maul by Ahsoka, although he'll escape in the chaos of Order 66. There's only 5 more episodes to go, so I think they need to establish that arc pretty sharpish.

Slydice

Only 5 more episodes!

CastorTroy

Yeah I knew the arcs are already available to read online due to the fact they released details and animated storyboards when they thought they wouldn't get a chance to do more. But I didn't read/watch them upon release then forgot about them.
So good to see them now after managing to avoid spoilers. May look up the rest when it's all over. Or I may live in hope they get more.

I lost access a few weeks ago to where I had been watching them so only got episodes 5 and 6 this week. I hope this arc picks up because its not great at the moment

Spon Farmer

Is the animation in the first season 7 arc different to previous seasons?

It seems less advanced to what I remember - more like season one animation.

Varik

Disney+ got 2 episodes today for Ireland/UK/wherever, so now caught up to US.

Slydice

8:

Bo-Katan!!!! She's got the dark sabre

!!! :eek: Right?

Well now I'm really looking forward to the next episode!

Gbear

Slydice wrote: »

8:

Bo-Katan!!!! She's got the dark sabre

!!! :eek: Right?

Well now I'm really looking forward to the next episode!

Maul still has it AFAIK. Sidious took it from him when they fought in Season 5, but I think he got it back. Presumably the Mandalorians reclaim it once he's defeated.

I thought that episode was grand, but it did feel a bit glued together from spare parts. It really does seem like they had an endpoint in sight for the Mandalore arc, and couldn't find any particular way how to get there, so they just kinda winged it.

AbusesToilets

I wish they would hurry up and post the rest of the episodes. Waiting to watch them all together is killing me.

Slydice

It does feel like holding off isn't a bad idea and this could be given a good binge.

Still though, I'll probably be still episode to episode

AbusesToilets

I caved and started watching them.

Did Ashoka lose her lightsabers at some point?

Varik

AbusesToilets wrote: »

I caved and started watching them.

Did Ashoka lose her lightsabers at some point?

When she left the jedi, don't know if she'll get them back before end here but she got new ones in her own book and those are what she uses in Rebels and probably the mandalorian.

CastorTroy

Good opener for the final arc.

I found the beginning of it interesting in how different it was to the previous episodes. With the "Lucasfilm Limited Event", I think it was. Saw a suggestion it could be released as a movie. But wonder if there will be more Limited Events. Maybe the occasional Clone Wars movie?

Anyway, got the answer to the lightsabre question. How long was she away from the Jedi Order?
Looking forward to more

Slydice

9: That was a very special episode!

5 seconds in and I'm like.. THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL EPISODE!

and I was not let down.

About three quarters the way through, I was like THIS IS SO COOL!

This episode and the next final episode written by Dave Filoni!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Star_Wars:_The_Clone_Wars_episodes#Season_7_(2020)


So... one whole week! One Whole Week!

Gbear

So good. Tugging on your heartstrings throughout.

And again, the animation is so much better than the original run.

The last time she'll speak to Anakin.

AbusesToilets

I'm really interested in how they will tie in order 66, since it overlaps with Ep. III

Slydice

Well. If there's one set of people to be surrounded by when Order 66 kicks off.. it'd be:
- Mandalorians on your side who'll protect you from the Clones
- Mandalorians and a Sith Lord who are Not on your side who are already fighting the Clones and have no love for Palpatine


Saying that though, maybe it's Jedi specific and these clones seem to know she's not a Jedi member anymore.

Slydice

Slydice wrote: »

Well. If there's one set of people to be surrounded by when Order 66 kicks off.. it'd be:
- Mandalorians on your side who'll protect you from the Clones
- Mandalorians and a Sith Lord who are Not on your side who are already fighting the Clones and have no love for Palpatine


Saying that though, maybe it's Jedi specific and these clones seem to know she's not a Jedi member anymore.

If you've watched rebels they provide a little bit of extra info on this. Don't know how do do spoilers so won't post

Slydice

I have watched Rebels and I am guessing I've gotten hazy on it. When I heard

Fulcrum

being used in this episode, I definitely remembered Rebels!

Guessing I'll be reminded in the next episode though!

CastorTroy

Another cool episode.

Getting closer and closer to Order 66 with Obi Wan being dispatched to fight Grievous

And looking at the credits

Ray Park performed the Maul fight scenes

After these episodes, I must reread the Son of Dathomir comic and episodes of Rebels related to this arc. Won't say who the episodes follow in case someone here hasn't watched and doesn't know who survives until then.

Relikk

I was thinking all through that fight that they really nailed Ray Park's fighting style for Maul. It was also more measured and the pacing was much slower and more realistic compared to the fights that we are used to seeing in the Clone Wars series, as they're usually lightning fast. Great idea to motion capture the scene. The last two episodes have been perfect. Really couldn't ask for anything more as a Star Wars fan.

Varik

Weird the way Maul

avoided saying palpatine, things would have gone differently if he had rather than saying former master/sidious all the time.

Be odd if he didn't know

Love that quick scene

where maul got kick through the window and his lightsabre cuts both sides.

CastorTroy

I was thinking at the end

I hope someone fixes that beam. It could be dangerous.

Slydice

10: Intense story at the start and action at the end!

Only 2 Episodes Left!!

Oh this is gonna be something!

Wierd the way Maul does anything in all his stories to be fair.

Relikk

Cool video of the motion capture process for the Maul and Ahsoka duel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-k5lHp6g77s

CastorTroy

I know it was due to the model being reused, but found it funny when all the Mandalorians were standing in the tunnels listening to Maul, they all had a bun in each hand.

CastorTroy

Another great episode.

Order 66. Rex seemingly trying to fight against it but ultimately failing. Callback to 5s' malfunctioning chip.

1 episode to go. As much as I don't like saying that, I'm looking forward to see how they wrap the 4-parter and the series up

Slydice

11: That was so good!

Unleash Maul .. as a distraction! and what a distraction!

:eek:

The soundtrack! Felt very Bladerunner! I liked it!

CastorTroy

Yeah was surprised at the decapitations then the arm. Didn't get to see the one missing the arm after

Speaking of Maul, I always liked this Maul clip, also voiced by Sam Witwer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDO2Iackdgc

Slydice

12: Just Freakin Wow! How was that a whole episode?! Felt like 30 seconds!

The Artwork and Soundwork in these last few episodes have just been great. The soundtrack as well! Real mix of Kevin Kiner and Blade Runner feel I thought. Really liked how they mixed in Kiners music from Rebels!

• Really cool how they showed the different path of the Light and the Dark escaping on the Clones Ship!
• That scene with Maul destroying the hyperdrives!!!
  :eek:
• The animation scenes showing clones ship coming to pieces and going down into the moon!!
• The mood and feels when Rex knew he'd be fighting his brothers.
• Ahsoka letting Maul go cos she knew she needed to save Rex.
• Ahsoka holding the line while Rex got that fighter(looked similar to an A-Wing?) ship ready. She took some knocks there!
• Then the two endings with Ahsoka and the ligthsabre which I guess was her letting go of the past... and Anakins.. well Vader now.. the artwork of his scenes and him finding the Sabre! That was the owl from Rebels right?!

The Mandalorian can't come soon enough!

AbusesToilets

Beautifully done episode. There's a level of depth and emotion in the show that's generally lacking from any of the movies. Anakin and Ashoka's arc are so well handled.

I really hope Filoni can steer the future of the property

Relikk

Amazing. Great season overall, but these last four episodes in particular have been nothing short of perfection. Loved every single second of them.

CastorTroy

Great finale. I like that even though she knew the clones were gong to die anyway, she didn't want to be the one to kill them, even though it made things harder for her.

Gbear

Fantastic.

Gorgeous.

I recently tried to watch the Rise of Skywalker and just binned it after about an hour because it was muck.

The amount of respect to the lore, the pathos, the set pieces, the physical comedy, the representation of the power of the force... it was alien to that film, but it was here in abundance, and it's probably the best piece of Star Wars media made since Empire. Simply brilliant.

It makes me hopeful that Star Wars as a franchise can be turned around, after two dud trilogies of films in a row.

chrislad

Agree, 100%.

The more recent non-movies, such as The Mandalorian, Clone Wars, and even the signing of Taika Waititi to direct one of the newer movies gives me hope. In particular, the last 4 episodes of The Clone Wars actually make Revenge of the Sith a better movie, in my eyes (I did like it beforehand anyway)

After the disappointment that that last two movies were, and Solo, it's looking a bit more positive for the franchise. Having just finished Rebels as well, I'm hoping that the Mandalorian Season 2 can bring the conclusion of the Rebels arc back into the light for a proper conclusion.

CastorTroy

https://tvline.com/2020/07/13/star-wars-bad-batch-animated-series-disney-plus/

The Bad Batch getting a spinoff series next year