Each live-action Star Wars collection to this point has used characters and referenced occasions from Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars: Rebels. That is no shock, given Dave Filoni’s position overseeing the animated exhibits earlier than transferring on to guide the franchise’s live-action choices. Though watching the live-action exhibits doesn’t require information of their animated predecessors, they do depart you feeling out of the loop at occasions.

Clone Wars and Rebels each inform compelling tales that deepen the movies and introduce unbelievable characters. However realistically, not everybody has an curiosity in animation. Happily, Clone Wars is rife with episodes and arcs that may stand alone. From foreshadowing Anakin’s downfall to unveiling Sith operations, these important The Clone Wars episodes are a must-watch for all Star Wars followers.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Launch Date

2008 – 2020-00-00

Community

Cartoon Community, Netflix, Disney+

Administrators

Brian Kalin O’Connell, Steward Lee, Giancarlo Volpe, Bosco Ng, Danny Keller, Rob Coleman, Justin Ridge, Nathaniel Villanueva, Saul Ruiz, Jesse Yeh, Duwayne Dunham, Atsushi Takeuchi, Robert Dalva, Walter Murch

15

“Lightsaber Misplaced”

Season 2, Episode 11 (2010)

Whereas stopping some arms sellers in Coruscant’s underbelly, Ahsoka (Ashley Eckstein) loses her lightsaber in a crowd, however would not inform Anakin. As an alternative, she groups up with Jedi Grasp Tera Sinube (Gregory Baldwin), an aged Jedi who has many years of expertise coping with the prison underworld, and the 2 set off first to search out the thief, after which the consumer that he offered her lightsaber to.

“LIghtsaber Misplaced” pulls again from the grand, galaxy-spanning struggle and focuses on a smaller story centered across the shady underbelly of the Republic’s capital planet. Sinube is what actually elevates this episode: between his behavior of falling asleep and his love for an excellent pun, he possesses superb deductive and observational abilities, which assist train a easy however efficient lesson concerning the worth of expertise and the significance of taking issues sluggish. —Tyler B. Searle

14

“Rookies”

Season 1, Episode 5 (2008)

Captain Rex and Commander Cody cut up from their Jedi to examine a relay outpost on the Rishi Moon, however arrive to search out it overrun by commando droids. With solely a trio of untested clone recruits left alive, Rex and Cody should retake the outpost and inform the Republic Fleet earlier than the Separatists can launch an invasion of Kamino.

“Rookies” was one of many earliest episodes that forwent Jedi characters to give attention to the lives of the Clones, making it a keystone episode that shifted the Clones from a copy-and-paste military to beloved characters with their very own individuality. The shortage of Jedi characters additionally raises the stakes, for the reason that Clones cannot depend on lightsabers or the Drive to save lots of them; as an alternative, they need to depend on their coaching and teamwork abilities. —Tyler B. Searle

13

“Hostage Disaster”

Season 1, Episode 22 (2009)

The ultimate episode of Season 1 sees bounty hunters led by Cad Bane (Corey Burton) infiltrate the Senate constructing and take a number of senators hostage to make use of as bargaining chips for the discharge of Ziro the Hutt (Corey Burton). Anakin Skywalker was visiting Padmee earlier than the takeover, however he left his lightsaber together with her, forcing him to get inventive as he tries to battle the bounty hunters unarmed.

For followers of The Guide of Boba Fett, “Hostage Disaster” is a must-watch as a result of it’s Cad Bane’s introductory episode and stays certainly one of his finest because of its sharp writing and pacing. Not solely does he and his workforce take over the Senate constructing with ruthless effectivity, however in addition they get away after solely dropping a number of droids, successfully establishing Bane as a formidable new adversary. —Tyler B. Searle

12

“The Mandalore Plot”

Season 2, Episode 12 (2010)

Kick-starting the Mandalore arc, “The Mandalore Plot” dove head first into the political turmoil of Mandalore as a faction in search of pacifism clashed with a rival group hoping to revive their individuals’s warrior tradition. Fearing that Mandalore could be part of the Separatists, the Jedi ship Obi-Wan to analyze as a result of his previous relationship with the planet’s Duchess, Satine Kryze (Anna Graves), which reveals a romantic previous between the 2 which complicates the mission.

Along with its many intriguing plot parts, the episode additionally served as a crash course in Mandalorian historical past and politics, together with the introduction of the Darksaber and the doorway of the Dying Watch. Whereas “The Mandalore Plot” affords loads of exposition on Mandalore, the whole thing of the Mandalore arc is worth it as its exploration of Obi-Wan’s previous love provides a captivating new layer to his concern for Anakin over his romance with Padme.

11

“Deadly Trackdown”

Season 2, Episode 22 (2010)

The season two finale targeted on the rising to energy of one of many Star Wars saga’s biggest facet characters; Boba Fett (Daniel Logan). Whereas his arc over the earlier two episodes established his burning want for revenge in opposition to Mace Windu for killing his father and infiltrating a gaggle of coaching clones as a way to get near the Jedi Grasp and try an assassination.

“Deadly Trackdown” adopted Ahsoka and Plo Koon (James Arnold Taylor) as they scoured by way of the prison underbelly of Coruscant seeking Boba after he had already tried to kill Windu twice. The episode finds a poignant tragedy in Boba’s story, which carefully resembles Anakin’s hateful descent into darkness and struggling.

10

“Nightsisters”

Season 3, Episode 12 (2011)

Beginning a three-episode arc which was an excellent have a look at the Sith, “Nightsisters” targeted on Rely Dooku (Corey Burton) as he’s given orders by Darth Sidious (Ian Abercrombie) to kill his padawan as she grows too highly effective. With Dooku failing to hold out the assassination efficiently, Asajj Ventress (Nika Futterman) enlists the assistance of her fellow Nightsisters to take her revenge on Dooku.

Given it’s the first episode of the story arc, “Nightsisters” packs a variety of character work and Star Wars mythology into its 25-minute runtime, together with shedding some mild on the house planet of Darth Maul’s individuals. The following two episodes are properly value a watch in addition to the arc in its entirety, delving into the Nightsisters’ mystical strategies whereas demonstrating how deep manipulation and betrayal run within the ranks of the Sith to be certainly one of The Clone Wars‘ important episodes.

9

“Ghosts of Mortis”

Season 3, Episode 17 (2011)

Following on immediately after the Nightsisters arc, the Mortis arc consisted of three episodes which culminated within the harrowing and damning “Ghosts of Mortis.” Stranded on a mysterious planet after responding to an outdated misery beacon, Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka should decipher what’s going on to stave off assaults whereas determining an escape technique.

Given the episodes as a complete leaned closely into the mysticism of the drive, it may so simply have been disappointing to see the three Jedi have their minds wiped as they’re transported again to the galaxy they know. Nevertheless, given it presents Anakin’s descent to Darth Vader, the amnesiac allure works to a wonderfully poignant impact because it reinforces to audiences simply the place the characters heading.

8

“The Gathering”

Season 5, Episode 6 (2012)

As the start of a chapter directed particularly at younger Star Wars followers, “The Gathering” offered as a wondrous journey following a gaggle of younger Jedi in coaching. The primary leg of their journey is about as cool because it will get, being taught immediately by Ahsoka and Grasp Yoda and studying about kyber crystals as they assemble their very own lightsabers as properly.

The episode is a transparent departure from the collection’ surprisingly distinguished give attention to themes corresponding to political maneuvering and corruption, nevertheless it does current a fantastic dose of harmless enjoyable. It additionally works as a way to study concerning the lore behind the enduring weapon of the Jedi, the lightsaber.

7

“The Lawless”

Season 5, Episode 16 (2013)

Having been restored by the Nightsisters within the remaining episodes of season 4, Sith Lord Darth Maul (Sam Witwer) returns as a serious antagonist all through the second half of The Clone Wars. He wreaks havoc upon his return too, working alongside his brother and becoming a member of forces with the Dying Watch to launch an assault on Mandalore and Duchess Satine.

Fueled by his quest for revenge in opposition to Obi-Wan Kenobi, “The Lawless” noticed the fruits of Maul’s plan as he stood on the cusp of overthrowing Mandalore’s authorities, prompting Kenobi to rescue Satine. The episode revealed precisely how evil Darth Maul was, bearing on a deep darkness not often seen so explicitly in Star Wars, and revealed simply how a lot energy Darth Sidious possessed as properly.

6

“The Flawed Jedi”

Season 5, Episode 20 (2013)

Arguably one of the best episode to observe for followers of Ahsoka who’re relishing the scenes with Anakin and Ahsoka, “The Flawed Jedi” was primarily a Star Wars authorized thriller as Ahsoka faces trial for a homicide she didn’t commit. Determined to show her innocence, Anakin pursues Asajj Ventress to get the knowledge she has on the reality of the matter.

The ultimate episode of the ‘The Jedi Who Knew to A lot’ arc, it additionally had the added heft of being impressed by the work of Alfred Hitchcock, similar to the episodes that preceded it. It additionally gave The Clone Wars certainly one of its most gorgeous and highly effective tales, with its ending initially a conclusion for the franchise, which adequately confirmed the ethical dilemma Anakin confronted as a Jedi knight.