No they weren’t. Also, “tricks”? That’s a weird label to put on someone else’s opinion and perspective. I’m sharing my much more positive perspective on the prequels because I think they’re great. It isn’t deception.

And TCW Anakin is exactly like ROTS Anakin before his nightmare, down to his confidence in battle and flying, his tendency to give into his darker emotions, and rapport with Obi-Wan.

TCW wasn’t Dave Filoni’s pet project, it’s George Lucas vision. It’s as much of a child of Lucas as it is Filoni, if not more so.