Posted at May 4, 2020
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The Clone Wars Finale Brings A Close to One of the Best Series Star Wars Has to Offer

Clone Wars Season 7 Episode 12 Recap: Ahsoka Journey Ends | Collider

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLW2jkd6E7g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaNeHJyTA8s

With today, May 4th, representing Star Wars day Disney+ released the series finale of the Clone Wars. Having been renewed for a final season with the announcement of Disney’s newest streaming service, the Clone Wars finally got the send off it deserved.

With the series originally airing all the way back in 2008 along with the feature film of the same name. Originally the series was met with a less than lukewarm reception, both the animation and characters were criticized, and it seemed the show would add on to disappointing Star Wars series. But, with the creative vision of Dave Filoni, the series creator and director, as well as everyone else who worked on the show the Clone Wars became the de-facto version of the prequel era. Characters like Ashoka Tano and Captain Rex captured fans, and characters like Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi were given fantastic treatment as well. The series did the impossible, it made Anakin’s turn and poor characterization depicted in the prequel movies genuine and the character felt like what he was truly meant to be.

This brings us to the final season. While the Clone Wars was never praised for its visuals, the newest season is one of the best-looking animated shows I have seen. The last arc is especially beautiful, with haunting visuals and amazing lightsaber duels, the last four episodes are practically representative to a feature length movie. The care put in is evident, and this final hooray for the show was a perfect ending plus beginning to the original series and the sequel show Rebels.

The final arc covering the siege of Mandalore, duel between Ashoka and Darth Maul (then leader of Mandalore and the Mandalorians), to the fateful order 66 and fall of the republic. While the arc is still fresh in my mind, I still think this is probably the pinnacle of the series. Which is fitting, seeing Ashoka grow as a character and finally achieve some accomplishment after leaving the Jedi order only to witness the republic fall and her friends, the clones, turn against her. The soundtrack alone in the final arc is something to witness. With John Williams finally bowing out as the series composer, the music of Star Wars is left in a new direction. The synth score with piano played interspersing as the audience awaits the inevitable betrayal is haunting but oddly beautiful to listen and anticipate. The closest I can relate the score would be that of Blade Runner’s and I think it fits perfectly in the moment. Having long looming shots with a synthetic score isn’t distinctly Star Wars, I hope it does become more integrated.

Aside from the score, the visuals and animation are top notch. Watching Maul wreak havoc, only using his force powers, decapitating clones with a sheet of metal is his own Vader in Rogue One moment. There are also gorgeous long takes of just scenery, with the empty depths of space and sleek designs of the ships being lingered on not too often seen in a show primarily for a younger audience. The culmination of everything this series built up is satisfying to finally see. While the series originally “ended” with Ashoka leaving behind the Jedi Order and Anakin, the final minutes (with no dialogue) ends with Anakin, now Darth Vader, leaving behind Ashoka with a graveyard of clones in the background. The final shot with Vader seen in the reflection of a clone trooper helmet marked to look like Ashoka.

While this might be the end for the Clone Wars series, it is not for all of its characters. With the rumors of Ashoka showing up in Filoni’s the Mandalorian, we could see a continuation of one of the best characters that Star Wars has to offer. Aside from the Mandalorian, with the end of the sequel trilogy and now the end of the Clone Wars, Star Wars is finally in the unknown. Where will the series next take place? What do we have to look forward to? Hopefully the answers come soon but I am cautiously optimistic on the future the series holds.

You can watch the entire series of the Clone Wars now on Disney+ and if you’re a Star Wars fan I would highly recommend.

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