Thanks very much for the feedback. I agree with a lot of what you say.
The 501st is definitely the first proper good arc chronologically, or if not chronologically, as something that deserves to be a very early story in the war. Smudger recognised this, making it his first movie, and it’s why I’ve highlighted those first five episodes as a little ‘intro arc’, and would make it part of my own first movie too. The issue is that this show really needs to be recognised as The Ahsoka Show, not the ‘prequel characters anthology’ it began as. And while unarguably rough, Malevolence and Gunray arcs set up important character traits for Ahsoka - her determination, empathy, overeagerness, and brashness. We need to know where she comes from, so we can appreciate her growth. I’ve tried to strike a middle ground by highlighting those specific episodes as weaker than the rest of the show - hopefully to encourage the viewer to stick with the show even if they don’t quite enjoy those episodes. I’m interested in how you all feel that lands in line with that goal, or even whether it is the right goal.
As for the 501st, some good notes here. Echo’s name is a clumsy addition, as is Hevy’s ‘brothers’, so I might see about changing that. You’re right that I could smooth the intro dialogue too. I might also expand out the first third of the movie a little and give the squad a bit more success (especially since success [and medals] allows me to give 99 a bit more value) - though I still feel like it’s a more compelling three-act structure if it’s their failiure that sends them to the Rishi moon.
You might be the only person who doesn’t like 99 though! But I have to keep him either way I think, since he’s the inspiration for Clone Force 99 of the Bad Batch.
As for the opening line of each season, I don’t know. I think it’s inoffensive enough, at least. But I did kinda like the idea of giving each season a theme which also clearly outlines what’s the state of the galaxy/war right now. I quite like it as a replacement for the worthless fortune cookies.
Speaking of the movie, I have thought about how I’d structure a purely hypothetical movie 1 a little more. Since this is the first movie to follow Attack of the Clones, it should be clone-focused. That means the 501st, and an extended version of the Christophsis content which includes Hidden Enemy (and its traitor clone). Malevolence (and chasing Grievous) lead nicely into the 501st, and the Gunray episode continues the Ventress story, leading into it too. So it’d be a bit like this:
- Establish that Dooku’s agents are doing what they can to stop clone production dead in its tracks and undermine the Republic’s ability to field an army. Also establish
- Start on Christophsis, with the clone ambush, and parallel plots of Rex/Cody investigating the traitor as Anakin/Obi-Wan hunt Ventress. She escapes.
- Cut to Grievous in the Malevolence destroying Plo Koon’s fleet, and targeting the next medical station. Emergency in the sector.
- Return to Christophsis, with my trimmed version of the content from the movie. Before things get too heavy, Dooku tells Ventress that Gunray has been captured. Luminara’s specifically on the support ship dropping off Ahsoka. Ahsoka meets Anakin, and they liberate Christophsis, then head to space.
- Cut to Kamino, where Domino Squad are struggling in their training.
- Cut to the Malevolence storyline, where Obi-Wan’s coordinating medical station help whilst Anakin and Ahsoka hunt for Plo Koon and a clue about the Malevolence’s whereabouts. Probably revert to nearer the original ordering of the Malevolence storyline, where first it’s Plo Koon focused, and then the hunt for the Malevolence as it’s destroying medical stations can occur over a longer time period. Conclude the Domino Squad on Kamino storyline around here (or get them to Rishi if it feels like enough time’s passed), then destroy the Malevolence. Establish Luminara as present at the final battle. Grievous escapes.
- Cut to the Rishi moon, where Domino Squad are ousted. Hints of Anakin and Obi-Wan hunting Grievous, as we intercut with Ahsoka, with Luminara, fending off Ventress. The 501st rescue Domino Squad. I may see what I can do to have Ahsoka’s interrogation of Gunray yield the clue which she gives to Anakin which sends Rex/Cody to Rishi. (Edit: I just tested this and it’s easy peasy!) Anakin congratulates Ahsoka.
- Conclude with Domino Squad, the 501st, Anakin and Obi-Wan defending Kamino against Grievous and Ventress.
One thing I really want to do with my purely hypothetical movies is make sure the characters are well-balanced in each of them, moving smoothly between storylines. So it’s less about big, focused episode arcs, and more about the characters always having something relevant to do.