If you place the Nelvaan arc + Padmé right after Ahsoka’s departure; you’d only need to cut Padmé’s reaction to Anakin’s scar. Either way, her embracing Anakin could be seen as supporting him after losing Ahsoka.
The scene of Dooku and Grievous I’d say it should be kept later in the war. TCW didn’t include a lot of Grievous in its later seasons because of the untimely cancellation. It also makes a reference to the Outer Rim Sieges. Or you could split it in two:
- the first half with Dooku and Grievous sparring could be a part of the opening, after Grievous’s first victory against the Jedi.
- the second half with Sidious could be placed after Nelvaan (maybe right before the battle of Coruscant), because it establishes the context of the last year of the war: the Separatists purposefully retreat into the Outer Rim to lure the Jedi away from Coruscant.
Completely agree again.