I’ve been thinking and find it to be very unfortunate that we never saw a confrontation between Anakin and Darth Maul. It would have been so emotional due to their interwoven destinies and so intriguing to see Anakin angry at him about killing Qui-Gon. Plus there’s even Darth Maul tapping into the void that Obi-Wan couldn’t fully fulfill of being a father figure. There’s honestly so much potential beyond even just these two points. I really wonder if George had held onto Star Wars awhile longer whether or not we would’ve seen a fight between them since the series was supposed to go longer than what we got. I’d like to hope so. Especially with Darth Maul being the big bad of his Sequels as it would’ve created an extra connective tissue history with the Skywalker family.
When Maul was reintroduced in Star Wars Rebels I expected his story to be this: he becomes an ally of the Rebellion who’s not trustworthy because he’s still very much a committed practitioner of the Dark Side and is only driven by his hatred of the Empire and revenge against the Emperor in particular, and he would frequently make snarky comments on the Rebellion’s lack of ruthlessness, and would naturally take a liking to Saw Gerrera, and would obviously encourage Ezra to give in to his darker tendencies, however his deals with the rebels start to rub on him and he becomes fond of them even if he refuses to acknowledge it. I would have then concluded his arc with him facing Darth Vader in a lightsaber duel, where he expresses a desire to have the duel with both of them in their prime, and Maul ultimately dies in his confrontation with Vader, realizing how futile his quest for vengeance against the Emperor was.
Instead what we got was Maul still looking to pick a fight with Obi-Wan. Seriously, what a waste.
Fun idea! I really like it too. I really wonder how he would’ve been portrayed as the main baddie in George’s Sequels. I can’t help but think he would be calculating with a bit of an unraveling insanity to contrast the more seductive and flirtatious Darth Talon. I think that would’ve been very new and fresh. It would’ve created a very interesting dynamic when the Solowalker son falls.
“Heroes come in all sizes, and you don’t have to be a giant hero. You can be a very small hero. It’s just as important to understand that accepting self-responsibility for the things you do, having good manners, caring about other people - these are heroic acts. Everybody has the choice of being a hero or not being a hero every day of their lives.” - George Lucas
I’ve been chipping away at this series for almost 10 years now and I’m finally done!
I appreciate Ahsoka as a character much more after Season 7. The last few episodes of Season 5, with Ahsoka leaving the Jedi Order, was probably my favourite part of the whole series, but all of the last season was really enjoyable and well done.
I’m disappointed that The Bad Batch is the continuation of this, but oh well.
On to Rebels and then The Bad Batch.
Instead what we got was Maul still looking to pick a fight with Obi-Wan. Seriously, what a waste.
Maul’s story always had to end with Obi-wan. Since TPM his fate has been tied to revenge on Obi-wan and he’s had tunnel vision for that. In The Clone Wars, he vows “we shall start with revenge” and first takes aim at Obi. First him, then Palpatine. But he never even manages to kill Obi-wan, so it communicates the same, that Maul’s quest for vengeance against the Emperor was futile. It also provides a very interesting scenario where we know if Maul had won, he would have taken Luke as an apprentice, just like he would have done with Anakin in TPM.
Maul dying in a Vader vs Maul duel would have been pure fanservice and not relevant to his arc in the slightest.
“Remember, the Force will be with you. Always.”
I didn’t like the idea of bringing Maul back when they did it, but how they used the character was worth it. He’s in some of the best episodes of The Clone Wars and Rebels.
Instead what we got was Maul still looking to pick a fight with Obi-Wan. Seriously, what a waste.
Maul’s story always had to end with Obi-wan. Since TPM his fate has been tied to revenge on Obi-wan and he’s had tunnel vision for that. In The Clone Wars, he vows “we shall start with revenge” and first takes aim at Obi. First him, then Palpatine. But he never even manages to kill Obi-wan, so it communicates the same, that Maul’s quest for vengeance against the Emperor was futile. It also provides a very interesting scenario where we know if Maul had won, he would have taken Luke as an apprentice, just like he would have done with Anakin in TPM.
Maul dying in a Vader vs Maul duel would have been pure fanservice and not relevant to his arc in the slightest.
Yeah, I challenge anyone to watch this…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVkUglhoon0&ab_channel=DarthPorg
…and still claim that it makes more sense to end Maul’s story with a random fight against Vader. It had to end with him against Obi Wan. After losing everything else, vengeance against Obi Wan was the only thing he had left to cling to. It’s the throughline connecting his story from beginning to end.
I’ve watched that and it is a FANTASTIC edit. Love it to bits!
Something I forgot to mention to explain my reasoning for why dying at Vader’s hand wouldn’t have been relevant to Maul’s story - Vader and Maul share little to no past history together, so it wouldn’t be meaningful. Maul and Obi-wan on the other hand…
“Remember, the Force will be with you. Always.”
I felt the shared history between Maul and Obi-Wan was wrapped up when Maul killed Satine in front of Obi-Wan. For me there was no more to it. When introduced in Rebels, all Maul has left is his hatred for Darth Sidious. He says as much to Ezra.
So while everyone was hyped up about the rematch in Rebels, I was annoyed.
I felt the shared history between Maul and Obi-Wan was wrapped up when Maul killed Satine in front of Obi-Wan. For me there was no more to it. When introduced in Rebels, all Maul has left is his hatred for Darth Sidious. He says as much to Ezra.
So while everyone was hyped up about the rematch in Rebels, I was annoyed.
Well, Maul did kind of go mad on his own (after his criminal empire crumbled) and learned of Obi-Wan’s survival not long after, so his priorities changed to some level.
Ultimately, his story had to end with Obi-Wan. That episode, “Twin Suns,” is probably the only part of Rebels I truly like.
I felt the shared history between Maul and Obi-Wan was wrapped up when Maul killed Satine in front of Obi-Wan. For me there was no more to it. When introduced in Rebels, all Maul has left is his hatred for Darth Sidious. He says as much to Ezra.
I did consider that Maul’s revenge on Obi-wan was murdering Satine, but he always intended Obi-wan to eventually die in a prison cell, so him still being alive after order 66 was unfinished business as far as Maul was concerned.
“Remember, the Force will be with you. Always.”
The other night I watched Jedi Crash and Defenders of Peace. I loved the episodes. They were so lovely and beautiful. The atmosphere, music, and characters all worked. Aayla Secura has truly become my favourite minor Jedi. Is it just me or does Tee Watt Kaa remind anyone else of Mr. Miyagi from Karate Kid? At least I find they are in look. Most of all I loved that the arc was devoted to pacifism. It’s honestly been just what I needed to feel that special Star Wars feeling I had as a kid and it’s helped me see that my story ideas for what I’m writing are possible too.
“Heroes come in all sizes, and you don’t have to be a giant hero. You can be a very small hero. It’s just as important to understand that accepting self-responsibility for the things you do, having good manners, caring about other people - these are heroic acts. Everybody has the choice of being a hero or not being a hero every day of their lives.” - George Lucas
I_AmNoJedi on reddit made a Clone Wars Mandoverse Watch List: Abridged watch list focusing on story arcs that build to the finale & provide background for Mandoverse shows:
I thought the above could be of use for anyone interested, or wanting a refresher on here too.
I_AmNoJedi on reddit made a Clone Wars Mandoverse Watch List: Abridged watch list focusing on story arcs that build to the finale & provide background for Mandoverse shows:
I love fan made stuff like this, and is so helpful for finding certain story arcs and episodes. The similar info-images posted for the “Mandoverse” and for Ahsoka too.
The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear.
Pretty neat watch list there . While perhaps not essential to the Mandoverse , I would add the Landing at point rain episodes as well as the Pong Krell arc . I haven’t rewatched the series in many years now , but when I think back to the series ,those two stories are the ones that really stuck with me as they dealt with important themes and had much drama and action . I would probably add in most of season 6 " the lost missions " as they are also important to the overall lore of the saga as a whole ,explaining the mystery of Sifo Diyas , Yoda’s first visit to Dagobah , communing with Qui Gon etc . Those are episodes I wouldn’t want to miss .
Let me begin by emphasizing the positive aspects of this show. The characters are truly engaging and feel relatable, and the storylines themselves are consistently entertaining. I find that each episode holds its charm, including those from the initial season that might come across as a bit more youthful. There is a lot about this show that feels innately appealing, and watching it always manages to put a smile on my face. It is a show that I will always hold dear because it was my first Star Wars series after experiencing the films, and it brings back some wonderful memories. Yet, despite my deep enjoyment of the show and my genuine appreciation for its quality, I find it difficult to accept it as an organic part of the broader Star Wars universe.
To begin with, I struggle to align this show’s version of Anakin with his portrayal in the Prequel Trilogy. While I do not find the character himself unpleasant, the issue is that he feels misaligned with the Anakin from the films. There is a significant difference in how he is represented here, and I find it hard to reconcile the two versions. Ideally, to match his character progression in the movies, the show should have depicted a transition, beginning with traits from Attack of the Clones and gradually evolving toward his demeanor in Revenge of the Sith. Instead, we see Anakin being the same character we see at the beginning of Revenge of the Sith right from the outset, which, to me, feels abrupt and not entirely convincing. It is true that Anakin was not always easy to like in the Prequel Trilogy, but that is precisely what would have made a gradual transformation so meaningful. Showing how he shifted from his impulsive, somewhat unlikeable younger self in Attack of the Clones to the charismatic hero seen at the beginning of Revenge of the Sith would have added a layer of depth to his journey. However, the series skips that development, presenting him as an already fully-formed, likable hero. Although that is not inherently a flaw, it does stray from his cinematic characterization. Just as some fans refer to the Sequel Trilogy’s Luke as “Jake Skywalker,” Anakin in The Clone Wars could be seen as “Aniken Skywoka.” And let’s be honest, Mat Lanter’s voice does not resemble Hayden Christensen’s, which makes the character feel further removed from his film counterpart. In my opinion, The Clone Wars micro-series by Tartakovsky handled Anakin’s development more effectively. Early episodes reflect the young, hot-headed Anakin we see in Attack of the Clones, but as he becomes a Jedi Knight, he gains confidence and maturity, ending the series closer in personality to his Revenge of the Sith self — calmer, more heroic, and less quick-tempered. This gradual evolution felt more in line with what we see in the films, and it worked much better, in my opinion. So, while the portrayal in The Clone Wars is not necessarily poor, it lacks the nuanced progression that I believe was necessary to match the character’s cinematic arc.
Beyond Anakin’s portrayal, I also find the concept of Anakin having a padawan, Ahsoka, challenging to reconcile with the Prequel Trilogy. Ahsoka is not a poorly written character, and I have no objections to her as an individual. However, making her Anakin’s apprentice feels forced, as there is no suggestion in the films that he ever had a padawan between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. In Revenge of the Sith, there is no mention of Ahsoka by anyone, not even Anakin himself. Given how important the relationship between master and apprentice is, this omission seems notable. From an in-universe perspective, it feels unlikely that no one would be aware of Anakin’s apprentice by that time. Therefore, inserting Ahsoka into this role feels somewhat forced. A more fitting choice would have been to place her as Plo Koon’s padawan, only appearing in storylines involving that character.
Another aspect I found somewhat lacking is the show’s portrayal of General Grievous. While I understand that George Lucas wanted him to be more cartoonish, I feel there is a balance that could have been struck between comedic traits and an intimidating presence. Instead, The Clone Wars depicts Grievous as inept and cowardly, lacking any real menacing qualities. I believe an ideal portrayal would have combined the ruthless efficiency of Grievous from the 2003 series with his more stylized, villainous elements from Revenge of the Sith. This would have allowed for a competent yet humorously villainous character who retreats when plans fail.
Darth Maul’s return is another element I feel does not work well. I am not opposed to Maul being brought back to life, but I do think his reappearance in the Clone Wars era is problematic. In Revenge of the Sith, there is no mention of Maul still being active or ruling Mandalore, even though such events would likely be significant. Had Maul been reintroduced after the events of Revenge of the Sith, it might have felt more cohesive. For example, the Expanded Universe brings Maul back in a self-contained story set after Revenge of the Sith, where he confronts Obi-Wan on Tatooine and dies. This approach respects the timeline without altering established events. If the writers had wanted a powerful Dark Side figure to control a criminal syndicate and take over Mandalore, they could have used Savage Opress instead, assigning him the role Maul fulfills in the show.
Finally, I find the portrayal of the Clones to be another divergence from the films. In Attack of the Clones, they are presented as genetically engineered soldiers designed to follow orders without hesitation. The series, however, gives them individual personalities and emotional depth, which, while interesting, contradicts their depiction in the films. Remaining faithful to the films’ portrayal would have eliminated the need for the inhibitor chip plot device, making Order 66 more impactful. It would also highlight the manipulative nature of the Sith and expose the Republic’s moral failings for using an army of engineered, obedient soldiers. Such a choice would add layers to The Clone Wars era without diverging from the films’ established themes. While I do not dislike how the Clones are depicted here, I believe a more straightforward interpretation would have enriched the story even further.
Overall, The Clone Wars is an enjoyable and engaging series. As I mentioned, it brings a lot of joy, and I appreciate its quality on its own terms. However, I see it as more of an alternative really that stands apart from the main Star Wars universe because, in my opinion, it does not fully integrate with the continuity established in the films.
“I know that all of you like to dream about space and are a little bit of envious of us. But you know what? We’re also envious of you. We are exploring the space, but it’s only the beginning. Planets and unknown worlds are awaiting of you. You will continue to storm the Universe.”
— Yuri Gagarin