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How many of you watch the Clone Wars series regularly and what do you think of it?

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Hi everyone. I personally don't watch the series, not really liking the animated movie that started it. However, my friend and I were discussing that he didn't think I was truly a devoted SW fan, as I didn't follow the series. I had always assumed it was just prequel quality, but then I started looking into it. I kinda think it might be worth looking into, with the Qui-Gon appearance.

So, how many of you watch it? What do you think of it? Also, how does it compare with the older Clone Wars series (which I actually liked)?

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If Skyjedi can acknowledge its good points then it's gotta be at least decent. That's so out of character for him but I've seen him do it.

A Goon in a Gaggle of 'em

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The Aluminum Falcon said:

Hi everyone. I personally don't watch the series, not really liking the animated movie that started it. However, my friend and I were discussing that he didn't think I was truly a devoted SW fan, as I didn't follow the series. I had always assumed it was just prequel quality, but then I started looking into it. I kinda think it might be worth looking into, with the Qui-Gon appearance.

So, how many of you watch it? What do you think of it? Also, how does it compare with the older Clone Wars series (which I actually liked)?

 

I don't watch it, but my younger brother sort of does, and sometimes I'm just tired and bored and watch along for like 30 minutes, but mostly less.

What can I say? It's kinda fast-paced, has some wacky aliens and robots, some one-liners are cool, some ideas are cool, the action is really flashy... but like at least 70% of it is made of silly.

 

There was that one episode I "witnessed" the other day, it was about a wounded clone trooper who, after getting shot on some planet, got nursed to health by some farmer/hermit couple with two kids, and the family father was a deserted clone trooper who lost his "brothers" on Geonosis and found a new life with this chick he stumbled on.

So the wounded is first like "you're a deserter, I'm gonna have to report you!", but then they talk a couple times, the family father tells his story and about his devotion and obligation to his family, questions the trooper's convictions who insists that he wasn't programmed and is consciously doing his part of protecting the citizens of the Republic against evil enemies, and at the end they reach an agreement and the soldier does the "I'm gonna have to report everything, but guess the injury impaired my memory" cliché.

Their dialogue feels pretty much alive and is fairly interesting in the context, both show personality, but the lines they say are at the same time hardly inventive and really just clichés, mostly.

 

At the climax, the two STUPID, ANNOYING KIDS ask if they can go outside and PLAY, and then, no, they're not ambushed and eaten by evil robots, they play CATCH and ACCIDENTALLY GO INTO A FOREIGN STARSHIP, where they ACCIDENTALLY WAKE UP THE WEIRD SEP ROBOTS, who slowly crawl out of their space while the kids just run back home without any tension or drama.

Then they kinda all run upstairs, the two men protect the house ("I'm going to handle this; I need you to stay by my family in case I don't make it!"), and then the droids are defeated at the end without any real tension or drama, and the whole thing is just neatly wrapped up in a nice, typical Smallville fashion.

 

Oh, did I mention the wife looks like, um, those hot Jedi chicks with the tentacle hair? And wears titillating stripper clothing almost all the time? Then at the beginning she's like all tough and like "you can't go inside, we do not trust anyone", but then she quickly gives in...

Then it's discovered the kids have force powers which they use to randomly move things around, and Mum's kinda "I told you not to do that" (I guess she's a Jedi, too, because she looks like one from the movies), and they're like "we're sooory, muum", and... gee, they're ANNOYING.

 

The parallel plot was about Anakin and Obi setting some dispute between a Republic faction and a bunch of Natives on some planet, who looked like one of the Cantina aliens and were turned into proud warrior race guys for the plot. Wow.

The Republicans here are kinda weird blue guys, of which the leader is the typical, arrogant, aggressive warmonger who wants the Natives removed from the planet, and then he's accompanied by a "senator", who looks like she's 14 or something, whose haircut is exactly like Amidala's, and she's constantly blabbering on about "peaceful solutions".

Then, they start fighting... but then make piece anyway... and yea, somewhere in the episode, the clones, or Jedi, or dunno, playing 3D chess that looks exactly like the one from ANH... and it appears to be THE SAME MOVES.

 

Gee, what a bunch of SHIT. This show is complete and utter schlock, but then, Anakin's got more personality, the clone troopers are explored, and it's got a bit of cool stuff in it. But boy, does it SUCK.

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I like it a lot more than the prequels. It's "fun" Star Wars, which we haven't had in a long time. And Anakin is actually likeable! His slip towards the dark side is more subtle and believable here, like when he force chokes information out of Trade Federation prisoner without telling his fellow Jedi.

Even Jar Jar is somewhat tolerable, something I once thought impossible. ;)

As it's a half hour (20 minutes sans commercials) show, it's storylines and arcs are going to seem more drawn out compared to the cel animated CW "Micro Series" that preceded it.

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Where were you in '77?

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I have several on my dvr that I'm checking out. It's not bad, although I think if you took out the lightsabers and changed the names no one would care. It's certainly better than most toy ad cartoons though. Except M.A.S.K., that was the shit.

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I recorded the first two seasons but I don't think I will ever watch them again... so I stopped when the 3rd started. I still watch it since there isn't much on TV anyways, it's a good time killer.

Having said that, I don't like it that much. There has been a few interesting scenes like Coruscant underworld but usually it gets spoiled by some stupid plot twist and every ending needs to have a lesson learned, sigh. I almost barfed on the third season when that old clone died in slow-mo. Also it revolves too much among the, well, clones. I mean, who cares about them?? And way too many episodes revolve around politics, the kids must like that so much. Then there has to be some kind of reference to the OT all the time, like the first season was pretty much based on already used lines, luckily they toned that down. And of course, when you start thinking... they want everyone to join the Republic and you think hmm, those kids are going to be slaves for the Empire, how nice...

And in the time of greatest despair, there shall come a savior, and he shall be known as the Son of the Suns.

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I like it, and watch it regularly. It's good, despite some flaws here and there. And the animation has been greatly improved.

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Alexrd said:

I like it, and watch it regularly. It's good, despite some flaws here and there. And the animation has been greatly improved.

This.

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I enjoy it for the animation but the stories could and should be better. they need to drop the 3 episode story arcs because  often the episodes don't feel like they've been worth watching on their own. you're watching 30 minutes [or 22 minutes] of a longer story.

I usually watch it of a saturday mid morning along with some sitcoms and what not so It's a bit of fun but not much more.

I feel like they are starting to realise what they have at their disposal and once all the bad ideas are exhausted they'll start being more creative - as they have been in the past [in small doses]

I feel like they should have cast Matt Lanter in the PT as Anakin as he plays the character much more convincingly - and even looks the part.

 

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LexX said:

I recorded the first two seasons but I don't think I will ever watch them again... so I stopped when the 3rd started. I still watch it since there isn't much on TV anyways, it's a good time killer.

Having said that, I don't like it that much. There has been a few interesting scenes like Coruscant underworld but usually it gets spoiled by some stupid plot twist and every ending needs to have a lesson learned, sigh. I almost barfed on the third season when that old clone died in slow-mo. Also it revolves too much among the, well, clones. I mean, who cares about them?? And way too many episodes revolve around politics, the kids must like that so much. Then there has to be some kind of reference to the OT all the time, like the first season was pretty much based on already used lines, luckily they toned that down. And of course, when you start thinking... they want everyone to join the Republic and you think hmm, those kids are going to be slaves for the Empire, how nice...

It does say "Clone" in the title though! ;)

The episode with the rookies fighting off the more deadly and scary battle droids at a lonely outpost was one of the best clone specific stories. I find the "everyman" without supernatural abilities in the SW universe more interesting at times.

 

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Where were you in '77?

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SilverWook said:

LexX said:

I recorded the first two seasons but I don't think I will ever watch them again... so I stopped when the 3rd started. I still watch it since there isn't much on TV anyways, it's a good time killer.

Having said that, I don't like it that much. There has been a few interesting scenes like Coruscant underworld but usually it gets spoiled by some stupid plot twist and every ending needs to have a lesson learned, sigh. I almost barfed on the third season when that old clone died in slow-mo. Also it revolves too much among the, well, clones. I mean, who cares about them?? And way too many episodes revolve around politics, the kids must like that so much. Then there has to be some kind of reference to the OT all the time, like the first season was pretty much based on already used lines, luckily they toned that down. And of course, when you start thinking... they want everyone to join the Republic and you think hmm, those kids are going to be slaves for the Empire, how nice...

It does say "Clone" in the title though! ;)

The episode with the rookies fighting off the more deadly and scary battle droids at a lonely outpost was one of the best clone specific stories. I find the "everyman" without supernatural abilities in the SW universe more interesting at times.

 

I know, that's why the little pause. ;) And I agree, I, too, like more about the "everymen" but clones aren't those. If it would be about real people as stormtroopers, it would be much interesting. But seeing men who have been made from test tubes and theres thousands of them... They're just manufactored soldiers, almost like droids. So droids fighting clones, it just gets boring. If someone gets detroyed, lets make more. I couldn't care less if they all died. So to me, it doesn't work emotionally, no matter how hard they try.

And in the time of greatest despair, there shall come a savior, and he shall be known as the Son of the Suns.

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Tobar said:

Alexrd said:

I like it, and watch it regularly. It's good, despite some flaws here and there. And the animation has been greatly improved.

This.

More of this.

I'll say that since the show is so widely aimed, with Jar Jar episodes, Clone episodes, fake Darth Maul episodes, it's kinda hit-and-miss with me. Overall I enjoy it.

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I find it much more Star Wars-ish than the PT films even the sillier episodes are less annoying than some of the nonsense in there.

They remind me of reading the Marvel comics between the first two films.

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I've been a regular watcher from the beginning. Overall, it's pretty good. Occasionally there's a stupid episode, but I think the good outweighs the bad.

I think they have a better take on Anakin than the prequels. And they have the right instincts when it comes to referring to the OT (Y-Wings, Tarkin, etc).

It doesn't really compare to the original Clone Wars mini-cartoons though. Those were just pure action and character - like Samurai Jack in the Star Wars universe. And I mean that in a good way.

For a Star Wars show, the Clone Wars series is pretty satisfying. I'm not really looking forward to the long-rumored live-action series. If it follows the current prequel trend, it can only be bad.

You know of the rebellion against the Empire?

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Put me in the "its fun to watch, and overall good, better than the prequels" side.

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 (Edited)

I like it, its kind of like a modern version of marvel star wars, takes Continuity with a grain of salt,  Which is fun.  I just dislike the obvious modern Lucas touches.

I also dislike that it is not EU and is Canon with the films, but hey whatever George knows best,lol.

 

Erik i think the live action could be good in certain circumstances.  Like Lucas does not direct, and someone else writes the episodes.  Guest writers and guest Directors like Young Indy, and up and comers in the industry as well as industry veterans.

As for Clone Wars i think it is really cool Walter Murch is directing an episode for season 4.

I think Return to Oz is unfairly maligned by Critics.

Still he is an incomparable editor, and sound guy.

“Always loved Vader’s wordless self sacrifice. Another shitty, clueless, revision like Greedo and young Anakin’s ghost. What a fucking shame.” -Simon Pegg.

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 (Edited)

I like it much, much better than the prequels. (for the most part)

some episodes are amazing while some are trash.

My must-see episodes:

Rookies, Hostage Crisis, The Deserter, Death Trap, R2 come home, Lethal Trackdown, Clone Cadets, ARC Troopers, Nightsisters, Monster, Witches of the Mist

Episodes I avoid at all costs:

The Movie, Bombad Jedi, Gungan General, Blue Shadow Virus, Supply Lines, Corruption, The Academy

 

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BloodnoseThePirate said:

Episodes I avoid at all costs:

The Movie, Bombad Jedi, Gungan General, Supply Lines, Corruption, The Academy

I think the movie is somewhat necessary to watch the series. While I agree with most of your avoidable episodes, I found Bombad Jedi an okay episode, specially how they mixed Jar Jar with C-3PO. And Supply Lines is a favourite of mine. It's a solid episode.

I would also add Blue Shadow Virus to the avoidable episodes.

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I too found that episode so OTT (but self contained) that it became enjoyable.

If you stuck those ideas into an official PT film they would be up there with Threepio's head swap in AOTC but on their own it actually worked as a parody of ESB.

The film itself (while having some toe curling moments) was not as offensive as any of the PT films and much more watchable than either of the Endor films.

Put it this way some of the episodes of the series are stronger than others but none of them were so bad I wished I hadn't seen them (though I've only seen the first two series and the film).

If there is a weak episode I know that there are going to be a lot more on the way so I cut the weaker episodes some slack.

The PT is something I waited from 1983 to 1999 for, there was only every going to be one shot at them and only three episodes, with all that time, effort and energy the awfulness of them can not be forgiven.

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I love the series, it gets better and better, both storytelling-wise and technically. But I still hate the way that animated Yoda

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Alexrd said:

BloodnoseThePirate said:

Episodes I avoid at all costs:

The Movie, Bombad Jedi, Gungan General, Supply Lines, Corruption, The Academy

I think the movie is somewhat necessary to watch the series.

I've only watched the first several episodes of the first season...so...someone please tell me this is not true.  I have no interest in seeing the movie.

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TV's Frink said:


I've only watched the first several episodes of the first season...so...someone please tell me this is not true.  I have no interest in seeing the movie.
It's "essential" only in the fact that it sets up where Asohka comes from, and a recurring villain shows up first in the movie.

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I think I can live without that knowledge, as I figured.

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Honestly Frink it's not that bad, it's got some nice moments in it.

It didn't deserve a cinema release but neither did the Ewok films (me slinking out of the Odeon in shame after seeing Caravan Of Garbage must have been a sight to behold).

It's got it's PT style share of intestine worrying moments but it's more forgivable if you think of it as a television pilot and you can get on DVD dirt cheap now.

If Star Wars can cope with wise cracking gun toting green rabbits outside of the films I think it can survive blue gay, and puking baby Hutts.