Here’s another thing I’m working on right now, just to help direct my focus whilst I do my first pass review of the episodes:

What is the core of the story? I think it comes down to a few things, in two categories.

Firstly and most importantly, those characters and events which have the most development and add value beyond just the show itself, into the current and future state of the franchise:

Ahsoka, in particular her growth and her relationships with Anakin, Bariss, maybe Lux Bonteri, and the Jedi Order as a whole
Maul, and to a lesser degree the Dathomiri characters
Mandalore, in particular Deathwatch and Bo Katan
Key clones like Domino Squad, the Bad Batch, Fives, and Rex

Secondly and less importantly, the characters and events who bridge Eps 2 and 3, or add value for other elements of the franchise, such as:

Anakin’s development and fall
The ongoing mystery of the clone wars themselves (Sifo-Dyas, Order 66, both sides being played, etc)
The fall of the Republic and rise of the Empire
The ebb and flow of the war itself (relatively unimportant - implied throughout)

^^ PLEASE CHALLENGE THE ABOVE. I’D REALLY APPRECIATE FEEDBACK ON THIS. ^^

One unexpected thing I think I’m coming to realise from thinking about this is that a lot of the characters have content which is relatively unimportant to the QUALITY of the show. And I suppose that’s because the show exists in a place where it was filling in gaps rather than needing to carry all this weight for itself. That’s not to say that existing characters don’t get valuable development, so much as an acknowledgment that not every appearance of a known named character is necessarily valuable. For example:

Anakin himself. Where we’re not getting more context for his fall, or developing his relationships, we don’t gain much from following him too closely. (Though we’ll probably still end up with loads of him for obvious reasons, so I wouldn’t worry too much about this one if you disagree.)
Padme. She does get some development around her political competence and other skills, certainly rounding her out more than in the prequels themselves, but she does have some painfully dull episodes which shouldn’t be included just because she’s known.
Obi-Wan, Dooku, Grievous. They’re all over the show but their A and B are relatively close together, so their journey from A to B is small, if touched on at all.
Bail Organa, Yoda, Mace Windu, Plo Koon, Commander Cody, Saw Gererra, Hera’s Dad… All important SW names, and all present to varying degrees in the Clone Wars, but not all necessarily with strong stories in every appearance, even if they do reappear elsewhere.

Very, very interested in feedback on this one, folks.