Star Wars: The Clone Wars doesn’t need an introduction, even among non-Star Wars fans. But just to be safe, the show basically follows the adventures and battles of the prequel trilogy characters as they help the Republic fight against the evil Separatist Alliance. Throughout this show, we get to see the overall growth of characters and the context surrounding Revenge of the Sith. 

For this seven-part series, I’m going to start with the first season and I’ll be including the premiere movie since I feel like it counts as part of the season. But without further ado, let us journey into a galaxy far far away. 

The Characters

As any audience would know, any character in a show would be nothing without the actor’s portrayal of said character. Thankfully, each actor embodies their assigned roles in Clone Wars very well. For example, Dee Bradley Baker and Matthew Wood serve as the voices for literally all the clones and battle droids respectively. Yet they manage to capture each individual clone or droid’s personality, speech pattern, and behavior. From the authoritative Captain Rex to the repetitive Echo, Baker can switch characters on a dime whenever we hear the clones talk to each other.

The strarfighter doesn’t stop here though, as we also get a good glimpse into the characters we’re already familiar with. While Hayden Christensen and Ewan McGregor can never be replaced, Matt Lanter and James Arnold Taylor do a good job staying accurate to the established material. It’s already crazy how they sound similar to the live action characters, but we see many moments of Anakin’s brashness and snarky attitude mixed with Obi-Wan’s wittiness and wisdom. While we already see that in the prequels, it’s in this season where we get more of that, as if we’re getting additional context to their characters. As another example, take Ahsoka Tano. Nowadays we see her as a strong, confident, and cool character. But I’ll bet most people don’t remember how brash and rebellious she used to be, especially when she was much younger. That’s why it’s good to see her like this, because it gives us a “before/after” comparison in future content and reminds us that not all our favorite heroes are perfect. 

The Dialogue

Even though this show has its dark moments, it’s still a kids show and it unfortunately shows in the script. The dialogue in this particular season is overall blunt and childish, which contrasts with the overall tone of the show. For example, in the episode “The Gungan General,” the trio of Anakin, Obi-Wan, and even Count Dooku get captured by ordinary pirates (yeah, let that sink in for a minute). In one scene where they try to escape, the following words are exchanged:

Anakin: “You should be more patient, master. After all, the count is an elderly gentleman, and doesn’t get around like he used to.”

Obi-Wan: “Yes, I suppose you’re right.”

Dooku: “I would kill you both right now if I didn’t have to drag your bodies.”

I mean, yes, I know they hate each others’ guts, but they’ve traded much more mature insults than this. Instead, we get dialogue that sounds like third graders bickering on a playground.

However, the dialogue is redeemed by dropping a few pearls of wisdom in some of the episodes. Such words can be found in the (technically) first episode “Ambush,” where Yoda and three clones agree to a contest against Asajj Ventress and her battle droids. Cornered, the clones are ready to give up, but Yoda sits them all down and points out how they’re all different in the Force. After that, he points out each of their traits and struggles, and how to overcome them. This is by far one of my favorite parts about this show, because we not only get compassionate moments like this one, but they also draw us in and make us truly think about what’s being said.

The Action/Story

If there’s anything I love more than watching characters beat the crap out of each other, it’s seeing such action adding to the established story. For half of this season, though, the action mainly feels forced in order to entertain the younger audience. This can be seen in the Clone Wars movie, which pretty much 90% of the plot is nonstop action. I understand that there’s a war going on, but even wars can leave moments for meaningful conversations or characters growth. While we see a few moments like Anakin and Ahsoka talking about her wanting to prove herself, they don’t really last long and we’re immediately thrown back into the action. 

On the other hand, there are episodes where the violence properly flows with the ongoing plot. Episodes like “Trespass” show a Star Wars version of cavemen only seeking peace on a frozen planet, until their neighbors provoke them into a war they tried to avoid, leading to several bloody confrontations. Additionally, the Ryloth saga near the end of the season shows the unjust occupation of the Separatists. While there is violence, it’s evenly spaced out and not jammed in every five minutes. Instead, we have time to cool down and observe the characters and their growth, such as the clones Waxer and Boil bonding with a little Twi’lek girl. 

Conclusion

In the end, I give this first season a 4 out of 10. I really hate to put it this low, but I have to face the fact that it’s a bit bland. However, this does NOT mean it isn’t worth a watch! It’s still a decent beginning, and it builds a foundation for the characters we know and love. If nothing else, it provides much-needed context for future seasons, as well as the opportunity to see how much they’ve grown down the road. 

I’d still strongly recommend you show this to any of your friends or family who haven’t watched it yet, because they haven’t lived until they’ve watched this masterpiece!