If you are in a hurry, you can just have a look to the final product without any explanations here.
The Second Layer: the Animated Series
Here I have selected a number of episodes of the two Disney's products. The list can be found at the end of the post but, before that, it is important to me to explain you why I chose these episodes. In this way, if you don't like a particular subplot that I've included, you can easily skip it. Don't get discouraged by the number of episodes because they are just 20 minutes long and the tone is very light (they are meant for children).
To be fair, there is also an animated movie (The Clone Wars). I didn't include it because I don't particularly like it and any information there contained can easily be found in the animated series.
The Clone Wars
I think the show starts hitting a high level from the third season. Introducing an entire plot regarding a new sith (Savage, brother of Darth Maul), it is interesting to observe how the Sith handle their power and their inability to share it (s03e12-14). The rest of the season is more dedicated to the political movements happening during the war and how its battles were won. As a side note, there are three episodes (s03e15-17) where Anakin has to face the Force and the Dark Side of it, having even a vision of his own future.
On season 4, the show focuses again on battle situations (s04e07-13) where the dynamic between the clones and the Jedi is explored with more attention. Then there is a subplot involving a first attempt to kidnap the Chancellor Palpatine (s04e15-18). As a final act, the season moves back to Savage and what surrounds him, re-introducing in the saga the beloved Darth Maul (s04e19-22).
The peak of the show is reached during its fifth season. While it contains a (skippable) funny, light story about young padawans building their lightsabers (s05e06-09, there is even a baby Wookie), the show turns in a much darker and deeper tone. First, we can see the arc involving Savage and Maul coming to an end (s05e01 and then ep. 14 to 16). Here we will assist to the attempt of building a third faction, guided by Maul. The show will drive you through exciting swords fights and cold-blooded executions. It is in this storyline that you can find my favorite episode: The Lawless, s05e16. At last, the show moves again on the war (s05e17-20), on how the Jedi are perceived by the population. Here there is my second favorite episode: The Wrong Jedi, s05e20, full of tension and with an extremely touching final moment involving Anakin.
The show was then canceled, therefore Disney decided to wrap it up in a final season with only 13 episodes. The goal is to lead you to the yellow crawl of Revenge of the Sith with no gaps in your understanding of the events. In particular, it is explored the origin of the sadly known order 66 (s06e01-04) and then (s06e10-13) we focus our attention on the investigation of the origin of the clones, leading to a very introspective journey for our beloved Yoda. I believe that episode 10, The Lost One, will give you an entirely different look on the choices of the Jedi Council and on how naive the Jedi were.
A final mention to another great episode that does not fit in any story relevant for the big picture. In s02e17, Bounty Hunters, there is an homage to Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai. The episode has basically the same plot but it is played by Star Wars' characters.
Rebels
Here, we meet Ezra (s01e01-02), a lost boy that will join the crew of the ship named Ghost. The episodes of the first season are mostly dedicated to presenting the general situation of the Galaxy and of the protagonists, but also takes a deeper turn showing the role of the Force and how easy is to abandon yourself to the Dark Side (s01e08-10). The entire season moves along following one of the last Jedi, Kanan, training this young man reminding a lot the tone of the original trilogy. In particular, in the episode named The Path of the Jedi (s01e10), there is a clear reference to the scenes where Yoda trains Luke in The Empire Strikes Back, facing the Dark Side. The short season is concluded with a prelude of what the rebellion is going to be, our rebels (and the Empire) start finding out that there is a bigger organization against the oppressive power of the Emperor (s01e13-15).
The second season starts with a great double episode, The Siege of Lothal (s02e01-02). Here, our crew of rebels will be forced by the Empire to leave their planet and definitely join the rebellion. A second plot is introducing what was the scariest Darth Vader ever displayed before Rogue One came to our screens. Later, our heroes struggle with the allies of Vader: the Inquisitors, hired to kill every last Jedi. In the search of a secure base and of a way to keep the Inquisitors away, the season ends on the sinister planet of Malachor with a fantastic showdown.
The third season is still running and, frankly, it is not very convincing to me. Interesting is the beginning: Ezra struggling in his training with the risk of letting his Dark Side emerge and take over, Kanan making peace with himself and the Force. Then (s03e03) Maul comes back to the stage and moves the plot along, suggesting something about Tatooine and someone that still lives. It is not convincing because, after that episode, the rest of the season so far aired is pretty much useless for our purposes. However, I've inserted The Last Battle (s03e06) since it is an homage to The Clone Wars and it is giving to the characters a clearer view on the events that led to the current situation. To this day, the last episode aired is Vision and Voices (s03e11), which is picking up the initial plot again, giving me hope for the second half of the season.
Click here for the third layer: The Comic Books.
Click here for the full guide with no explanations.
List of Selected Episodes
Every time you encounter a change of colors (the neutral are just stand-alone episodes), it means that a storyline is over (for the time being) and we move to the next one. Thus you can choose what to see and what not.
Clone Wars (in chronological order)
s03e01 - Clone Cadets
s01e05 - Rookie
s02e05 - Landing at Point Rain
s02e08 - Brain Invaders
s02e09 - Grievous Intrigue
s02e10 - The Deserter
s02e12 - The Mandalore Plot
s02e13 - Voyage of Temptation
 |
| s03e16 - Altar of Mortis |
s01e22 - Hostage Crisis
s03e10 - Heroes on Both Sides
s03e11 - Pursuit of Peace
s03e12 - Nightsisters
s03e13 - Monster
s03e14 - Witches of the Mist
s03e15 - Overlords
s03e16 - Altar of Mortis
s03e17 - Ghost of Mortis
s03e18 - The Citadel
s03e19 - Counter Attack
 |
| Chewbacca in Wookie Hunt, s03e22 |
s03e21 - Padawan Lost
s03e22 - Wookie Hunt
s04e07 - Darkness on Umbara
s04e08 - The General
s04e09 - Plan of Dissident
s04e10 - The Carnage of Krell
s04e11 - Kidnapped
s04e12 - Slaves of the Republic
s04e13 - Escape from Kadavo
s04e15 - Deception
s04e16 - Friends and Enemies
s04e17 - The Box
 |
| s04e21 - Brothers |
s04e19 - Massacre
s04e20 - Bounty
s04e21 - Brothers
s04e22 - Revenge
s05e06 - The Gathering
s05e07 - A Test of Strength
s05e08 - Bound for Rescue
s05e09 - A Necessary Bond
s05e01 - Revival
s05e14 - Eminence
 |
| s05e16 - The Lawless |
s05e16 - The Lawless
s05e17 - Sabotage
s05e18 - The Jedi Who Knew Too Much
s05e19 - To Catch a Jedi
s05e20 - The Wrong Jedi
s06e01 - The Unknown
s06e02 - Conspiracy
s06e03 - Fugitive
s06e04 - Orders
s06e10 - The Lost One
s06e11 - Voices
s06e12 - Destiny
s06e13 - Sacrifice
Bonus: s02e17 - Bounty Hunters
Rebels
s01e01-02 - Spark of Rebellion
 |
| s01e01-02 - The Siege of Lothal |
s01e05 - Rise of the Old Master
s01e08 - Empire Day
s01e09 - Gathering Forces
s01e10 - Path of the Jedi
s01e13 - Call to Action
s01e14 - Rebel Resolve
s01e15 - Fire Across the Galaxy
s02e01-02 - The Siege of Lothal
s02e03 - The Lost Commanders
s02e04 - Relicts of the Old Republic
s02e05 - Always Two There Are
s02e10 - The Future of the Force
s02e11 - Legacy
 |
| s02e21-22 - Twilight of the Apprentice |
s02e17 - The Honorable Ones
s02e18 - Shroud of Darkness
s02e21-22 - Twilight of the Apprentice
s03e01-02 - Steps Into Shadow
s03e03 - The Holocrons Fate
s03e06 - The Last Battle
s03e10 - An Inside Man
s03e11 - Visions and Voices
Currently running
Click here for the third layer: The Comic Books.
Click here for the full guide with no explanations.
I see you are considering actions (storyline also). But if you will try to include in your scheme the logic based on qualities, then the resulting opinion should be changed. Actually significantly changed. For example, whole 6th season has only 1 (one) episode (6.10). Others are stupid, illogical or just spam. The same situation is in other seasons.
ReplyDeleteOne question: why do you dislike tcw animated movie? Just interesting.
I agree that the entire series is full of so-called filler episodes. It doesn't bother me to much because it is a children show and has to cover a great number of weeks. The guide it is exactly to avoid those unnecessary episodes.
DeleteOn the sixth season, I don't agree: the all arc with the premature execution of the order 66 gives a nice insight on the origin of a crucial moment in the saga: the purge of the Jedi.
The final arc (last 3 episodes) are interesting to me because I identify it as the only moment when Yoda is truly himself: a powerful Jedi in peace with his dark side. The arc gives some more detail on the nature of the Force and gives an origin to the "ghosts" we saw in the movies.
At last, the movie. No deep reason in this case: I don't like the format of an animated movie, it works for a 20 minutes episode but it bores me for a full movie. Then, as I said, it is not really necessary.
Thanks for answering for both my questions.
DeleteI think there is need in some explanations :) tcw_s6e1-4 should be accepted as a significant part of the SW storyline. But it's stupid explanation! It's illogical and mere involving even more difficulties. Just think - how clones were able to detect newborn Vader as non-jedi. And how that detection ever could be made. For example jedi were unable to decide this task. Maybe clones were more advanced? :) Real explanation was hidden in 6.10. I think the authors just didn't get it. Palpatine lost his army of clones because of Obi and Yoda (in SW2). But latter somehow he was able to turn most of them on his own side thru politic games. And that game (partially) was in 6.10. Death is strong point. Especially when it's death of ALL your brothers (including you). That the key. Palpatine binds their (possible) existence to himself and their imminent death to jedi. Voila! It's not too difficult for such a mindful politician. And no any chips. Just one clever sith lord. Maybe it's dangerous to reveal such things to people in general :) At least it should be shown in a right way.
And tcw_s6e11-13 were delusive part of the saga. Nothing real at all (peace with dark side including). Peace means absence of dark side :) When the Sun is rising the dark is vanquished automatically. It's difficult to understand without special education what could elevate you and what cannot ever. Alas, unqualified people create faulty aims for people in general (children including). In this way the world is becoming more and more chaotic.
So, I didn't accept your explanation about tcw episodes and thank you very much for answering. It was really helpful ;)