Robert Hawkins Despite the rather significant flaws in the prequel trilogy, what it did do is open the door for some brand new and interesting storytelling opportunities. TCW is exactly that. Don't let the fact that it is a cartoon put you off. The later seasons are a lot more 'adult' appropriate than the majority of Episode I and II. TCW has it all, awesome planetary battles, numerous space battles, amazing lightsaber duels, excellent character development. The cardboard-cutouts of Episodes I-III are transformed into characters you can actually empathise and sympathise for and a number of new and likeable characters are introduced e.g. Ahsoka Tano, Pre Vizsla, Hondo Ohnkaka. Despite a few weak episodes, though nothing as bad as some of Rebels' episodes, the good ones far outweigh them and the last two story arcs in Season 5 are alone worth watching the entire show for. I hope the next SW series will at least take some inspiration from TCW. Job well done Filoni, to say the least.

pokemonqt Don't judge the show off of the 4 prequels. It has engaging stories and characters who you can get emotionally invested in. It redeems the prequels. Any Star Wars fan would enjoy it. The show's themes and tendency to go to dark places really help it.

Stephen Roberts The Clone Wars is definitely a worthwhile addition to Star Wars, and more than just a kids show. While the first season is alright (though still much better than the 2008 movie that served as an introduction to the series), things start to pick up in season two, and really take off in the second half of season three. Yes, there are a handful of weak episodes scattered throughout the series, but overall this show is great, especially for Star Wars fans.The Clone Wars is at its best when it is dealing with more mature themes through multi-episode arcs, and it really delivers at these points. A couple of these that stood out to me are episodes 7-10 of season four, which focus on the clone troopers of the 501st legion, as well as a villain centered arc that is spread out through seasons three, four, and five. These highlight arcs also generally end at the perfect time, without feeling rushed or overly drawn out. The viewer is given plenty of reasons to care about the main characters on all sides of the conflict the series is set in. In addition, most of the voice work is superb.Now, not everything about this show is always great, which is why it doesn't deserve a perfect rating. At times it does try a little too hard to be a children's show, perhaps to balance out some of the darker episodes, but these episodes generally fall flat and are often fairly predictable. Any episode featuring Jar Jar in a central roll tends to embody the weakest parts of the series, with the overused trope of a clumsy comic-relief character (who isn't terribly funny) bumbling their way through a dangerous situation and emerging victorious through no real doing of their own. Other episodes simply fall flat, and these are sometimes stretched into three or four episode arcs. These arcs are often dragged down by irritating supporting characters who feel like overused caricatures.Where The Clone Wars really shines, however, is how it expands on the Star Wars universe. Events that are only hinted at during the prequels are more thoroughly explored, concepts such as the Force are explained more in depth, and some characters and themes from the prequels are redeemed or otherwise just made better through further exploration. The scope of the galaxy Star Wars takes place in is really expanded, with numerous new planets, species, and concepts introduced. As a lifelong Star Wars fan, all of this is what really kept me coming back for more, and I know that I am far from being alone in this regard.So ultimately, I would definitely recommend this series to others, especially Star Wars fans. And yes, this includes those who hate the prequels. While it has its weak points, these are few, and pop up infrequently enough that much patience isn't required to get back to what the series does best.

charsobees Currently finishing season 1. The animation is good (not as amazing as 2003 one though), the plotting is nice, and the pace is good too. But it's really lacking in drama, maybe lacking a bit too much for my taste. The spirit of Star Wars is really in the drama, in the soap behind the action and adventure. The characters in this show however are really lacking the dramatic personalities we see in the movies (which is why some like this show more than the movies, I suppose). The problem with that is that I cannot see at all the main character, Anakin, as someone who could ever possibly be Darth Vader. Now the 2003 2D animated Anakin was the only portrayal of Anakin that I think is the most believable in his potential to be both good and yet be capable of evil. The Clone Wars Anakin is really more like a typical wholesome action-adventure hero, who is super adept, has a sassy disregard for rules he is way too talented to bother with, and has a cool sarcastic relationship with Obi Won and Ahsoka.Padme also, who already unfortunately had very little personality even in the movies, really has no personality here other than as a 'stable, well meaning female senator." There also seems to be no build up for the relationship Anakin and Padme have. Anakin in fact seems way more closer to and understanding of Ahsoka and Obi than he does with Padme.Then, Ahsoka has more of her master's pizazz of being headstrong and wanting to follow the beat to her own drum. How many snappy, unruly and sassy Jedi are there really? Still she's pretty endearing. And really, all the characters in the show are pretty endearing. It really is more cutesy and wholesome offshoot of the prequels. After all, that is to be expected, the show aired on CN.Overall though, it is still an entertaining show with a lot of creativity and is still very much Star Wars -- traveling to strange planets, peace and war with various alien people, and lots of stylish pg-13 battle action.