I didn’t know there was already a thread on Dave Filoni! I’d have posted about him using other creatives’ original work and using it in his own content, all whilst making many needless retcons and alterations to them in here, if I had.
I should read the Indexes on here more! 😃
Dave Filoni retcons in Star Wars; in The 2008 Clone Wars messes up continuity or how Lucas is still destroying star wars thread
^ includes the EU, Legends, Canon, the Prequel Trilogy, 2003 Clone Wars, 2008 The Clone Wars, Rebels, Bad Batch, Mandalorian, Book of Boba Fett, Tales of the Jedi, an “in general” section, and also Ahsoka.
An Index & Help Thread for _The Expanded Universe:
• Lucasfilm clarifies the future of the EU (a 2014 thread; re the 25th April Lucasfilm announcement about the EU; Legends & Canon)
• The Star Wars Expanded Universe: Past, Present, & Future (2014 official Star Wars ‘Legends/Canon’ announcement video)
^ “We now have a story department that so that there truly can be one consistent narrative - and that’s always been the dream. I think the idea of aligning the content is really fantastic and exciting opportunity that no other fictional universe could even support. We’re going to be able to bring fans a unified vision in a way that we’ve never done before. And I think it’s a also sacred trust to be invited to be telling stories inside this universe because it’s so precious to people, and I understand because it’s precious to me.” - Lucasfilm VIPs.
and:
^ “It feels real when everything is in line. And I think that is the challenge for all of us going forward with Star Wars. How are we responsible with what was? And how do we still move forward even if things become very different? I think the EU will be a legacy that is mined forever.” - Dave Filoni.
Yet Dave Filoni not only tore through Legends with unnecessary retcons and changes, but also to this new 2014+ Canon, despite the proclaimed “one consistent narrative” and “a unified vision” that Lucasfilm claimed they were introducing in 2014.
“The thing about Star Wars is that there’s one universe" - Leland Chee in 2008 (Keeper of the Holocron / continuity administrator)
^ More quotes from various high-ups at Lucasfilm stating the EU is considered canon at the SW Force 4 Continuity site.
I do like Filoni more than not, though for me the homages and fan service is throughout his work is getting old. The need for him to refer to and revere certain past events and characters is something he seems unable to move on from. Stories and characters do not seem to be able to live in the moment, or for the future; almost relying on the audience reaction for love of those memberberries to illicit some emotion, because the current story being told does not. And of course, his noted reluctance to kill off certain characters, no matter the situation.
For me Filoni’s strengths in animation are also revealing some shortcomings in live action. Stilted dialogue, with occasional profound and “learning moment” statements, long pauses and looking into the distance, a lack of emotion on many characters (in a bid to be more stoic or noble?), 2D characterisation of the mass ranks (both villains and heroes below the main protagonist and antagonists), a “stage direction” feeling to some scenes. With more a “flat look and experience” to some action sequences filmed on The Volume. Not just on Ahsoka (at the half-way point), but also seasons 2 and 3 The Mandalorian and Book of Boba Fett.
But for fans of his animated work, Ahsoka (aka Rebels season 5), or for fans who love memberberries and fan service, it is probably an enjoyable and positive experience. And for the causal fan, there are some good moments peppered in amongst a fairly mediocre and run of the mill modern Star Wars show so far, with Sabine and the two villain standing out.
Edit:
One thing I don’t understand is why the likes of Henry Gilroy, Steven Melching, Simon Kinberg, Drew Z. Greenberg, Scott Murphy, and others don’t seem too get much of a mention or credit by fans of the series. Or by Dave Filoni himself when he talks about The Clone Wars, Rebels or animated content.
Although I guess this is not much different when Filoni uses EU characters or events, and doesn’t talk about or credit the original creatives from there, either.
Some of the main creative roll credits for those series:
TCW: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0458290/fullcredits
Rebels: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2930604/fullcredits
Resistance: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8336340/fullcredits
Bad Batch: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12708542/fullcredits