As I’ve written before, my brother and I are really into Star Wars. We’ve bonded numerous times over the epic sci-fi saga, and I’m happy for all the ways it’s brought us closer. Lately he’s been interested in watching the animated Clone Wars series, and we’ve made it into a weekly chance for us to get back together now that I’m back at school.
It’s undeniable that The Clone Wars is a series meant for kids and young teenagers. Most of the filler episodes are pretty hokey, with lots of cheesy humor and lackluster plotlines. I’m especially not fond of Jar Jar Binks (who is?) but he’s the kind of character that pushes merchandise, so it’s not surprising to see him playing a major role.
But the series has its moments. The Clone Wars is constructed as a kind of mish-mash of war stories, as if they were being retold in bits and pieces. The episodes are presented all out of chronological order (this can be easily remedied with this guide), and feature several different ‘arcs’ that occasionally intertwine. Each arc usually takes turns between every 2-3 episodes, so you’re never stuck with any set of characters for too long.
One of the things the series has done right is offered a surprisingly complex look at the fan-favorite clone characters from the prequel trilogy. The so-called ‘clone arcs’ can be viewed themselves if you’re not interested in the rest of the series, and bring some personality to the otherwise little-characterized soldiers of the Republic. It’s in these arcs that the show offers dramatic conflicts and moral quandaries – such as by showing what happens to erroneous clones that fail their schooling, or how bad leadership turns an invasion into a nightmare on Umbara (a bizarre, almost Vietnam-esque conflict). I would argue that just these couple of episodes alone make the series worth checking out.
It’s a kid’s show, for sure. But if you’re really into Star Wars, you’ll probably have a little fun watching it. At the very least, there’s lots of extra lore to enjoy from this series, and it’s a nice way to get your Star Wars fix without seeing Rogue One for the third time (I’m not kidding).
