Full Series Official "The Clone Wars" Series Discussion Thread (Spoilers Allowed)

To me, when I watched Bad Batch in one go, one of the things it did was change my interpretation of Rex's convo to Kanan to be about the choice to believe, not the choice to remove the chip or not betray the Jedi. As in, the choice to believe Fives and not make the mistake to dismiss it. Cuz, Fives will have still died in vain. I think there are two ways to do this. The scars in Rebels seem to be a Red Herring. They either aren't actually from the removal of the chip but more a mark to symbolize their removal so Rex like Fives at the end of the Order 66 arc doesn't have a scar. Or more likely were removed later.

I think the best way is a little bit of what everyone is predicting. I had been holding off to temper my expectations. If Ahsoka knocks Rex out and is able to save both of them, I can just hear the outcry from all the people out there who are going to be pissed Ahsoka did something none of the other Jedi could. I think rather than just sensing it with the force @TheCloneWarsForever is right about letting Ahsoka and Rex use their brainpower to figure it out. There really isn't much holding them back from putting the pieces together. Both characters are not only very smart but even a different kind of smart from each other.

Then I think @rumblewagon and @ConservativeJedi321 are onto something since that is all great to figure it out but if the clock has ticked down to about 0 and they have only just figured it out. Brain surgery takes time. This isn't a bloody anime where Rex is just going to grab a knife and shove it into the side of his skull and fight through the episode because that's what would really happen if it were. Its a much better execution of Ahsoka knocking Rex out and then trying to figure out what to do next because the friends were two late. That still allows Rex to say he made a choice, just not in time to have helped himself. It keeps him equal with all the clones who are going to carry out the order and die trying. It makes Ahsoka less of a wunderkind who did what none of the other Jedi could and also makes it seem less like she just saved her friend. Then when Rex comes too, it's going to be terrible to see him have to put down Jesse like @SpecialOpsUnit suggested. He may be the realistic one who has to make the hard decision that there is nothing they can do for the other clones except kill them to escape.

Indeed one scene in the trailer we've not seen yet is the shot at the end where Ahsoka is up on the table and Rex appears to have been knocked on his face either by Ahsoka pushing him, or someone else knocking him into that table hard enough to collapse forward onto the floor, without his helmet might I add.

Might explain Wolffe and maybe Gregor (whom I think is broken and doesn't matter). If Ahsoka does try to warn someone Plo would probably be the next on that list after Anakin. Wolffe gets the call instead.

 

Okay, I haven't watched TCW since I watched the Bad Batch arc.

How are the last two arcs? I'm just curious. I'll watch it all either today or tomorrow.

(And no "second arc sucked because of a certain character or characters;" I want to hear how they really were and now what just the "popular" initial impressions were...)

 

The Underworld arc, in my opinion, is underrated. It just has a weak ending. It does it job getting Ahsoka from point A-B to get ready for this current arc. Seige of Mandalore slaps. Unless you don't like Ahsoka and Rex, awesome animations, Mandos, and kickass lightsaber duels you'll love it.

 

More Rex is good Rex.

 

Rex being in an episode even if he doesn't do anything is an automatic 5 points in my book. He saved a few of that abysmal season 3 episodes from a 1.

 

Yes, but it makes it all the more sad that he does ABSOLUTELY NOTHING in Rebels.

I mean, I can't be the only one who noticed that...

 

In Rebels, Rex:
-provides the early rebellion with knowledge of Republic and Separatist bases from the Clone Wars in search for supplies and a static base of operations of their own
-trains Rebel soldiers, e.g. Ezra. But Ezra wouldn't be the only one.
-has knowledge of Imperial procedure and codes, established originally by the GAR
-generally provides advice about warfare and the galaxy at large.

 

I was thinking more along the lines of what happened to Commander Grey in The Kanan Comic book.
Rex starts off ready to execute Order 66, but after becoming Ahsoka's prisoner for a time he comes to see through the brainwashing and chooses to remove the chip for himself. Yes brain surgery takes time, but I don't see why it couldn't be done as it was in season six. They get a medical droid, we see them prepare for it and fade to black so we don't actually have to sit through it. This way it wouldn't just be the "power of friendship" that saves him, as it has been established that the effects of the chip fade slightly with time.

On Ahsoka's power levels, I think its perfectly rational she would try to avoid killing the first wave of clones that attack her, I always thought the fact that the Clones had been allies to the Jedi for years was one of their advantages when hunting them. The Jedi would hesitate to strike them down because they were supposed to be on the same side. So theoretically Rex leads a squad to kill her, she defends herself by knocking Rex and several other clones out and closing the door to stop further reinforcements. Since Rex is the commander, beyond just being her friend, it makes strategic sense she would keep him prisoner, both to discourage further attacks and off the assumption that he might be able to answer questions about what is going on.

The real indicator that she has lost control would be when she is forced to start killing them. It could be an emotional moment, but I think it needs to happen. It would likely strain belief if she managed to fight her way across the entire Venator without killing a single clone. Even Yoda and Obi-Wan were forced to resort to killing clones in the film, so Ahsoka having enough control to just knock them all unconscious would raise eyebrows.

In the end its all just theoretical at the moment, turning the scar into a red herring would be disappointing for me since having it happen completely off screen would be a lost opportunity.

 

It doesn't do nothing.

 

Huh, when you put it like that...

 

He also through forming a connection with Kanan helps Kanan remember the Clones were their allies for a reason and part of that choice line I guess is Rex's way of saying he knew when to follow orders like a "good soldier" and when he decided it wasn't best too. His experiences with Cut, Slick to some extent despite it being a negative one and how he dealt with Krell is how he learns his independence. There's also the speech about how Clones aren't droids even if you could consider they were because of this programming and also Yoda's speech to his Clones back when the show began.

This clip also sets up where he'll go with Rebels but even if somehow what we know happens didn't happen there is a question in Rex's mind he probably wasn't ready to address of what he's going to do? Continue to serve in a different manner or retire? Can he retire? The fact he jumps back into the fight in Rebels could argue he can't beyond the fact he was needed to help for the reasons the other person stated.

Another thing Rex was able to go through in Rebels was experience the Last Battle of the Clone Wars and have a sense of closure. While it wasn't stated in the show probably because it'd be too dark but it is hinted at in that episode is Rex like a lot of soldiers is probably dealing with nightmares and PTSD. Even if he never killed a Jedi eventually all that fighting would catch up to him even if most of his killing was destroying droids he and his comrades still are committing murder if you want to get into the whole droids are also beings in the galaxy and deserve the same rights despite not being considered sentient.

We see in comics Clones dealing with Order 66 do begin to feel regret and some kind of trauma but they are killed in battle before it's explored. There are probably some Clones who committed suicide like many soldiers have because they couldn't live with their actions. Just guessing with that one but I wouldn't be surprised.

 

I thought about that too, only thing is I can think is that if Ahsoka has a chat with Anakin post Order 66 when he's full Vader/on Mustfar he would have to basically be lying to her, which is what we see in his chat with Padme after Order 66.



I mean it is possible to pull it off without stepping on the toes of the revelation in Rebels. Could be pretty menacing. As mentioned, it would just be a bit odd to have so much talking about Anakin and then not see him again for the rest of the series.

 

It’s crystal clear that this SoM arc has benefited immensely from lessons Filoni learned in live action. Incredible so far. And almost perfectly paced.

 

I wasn't ready.

Spoiler

Ursa looks really cool though.

 

Hello all! I haven't posted in these forums for quite a bit, but I have returned for the sole reason that I caught up with Clone Wars Season 7 last night, and actually watched all 10 episodes.My comments are the following:

• This season is in one word, flawless. I would not change a single nanosecond of it.
• Episodes 9 and 10 are the absolute best Star Wars that I have seen since the first 6 seasons of Clone Wars were aired, so in about 6 years.
• I randomly saw some complaints on social media about the Rafa and Trace story arc. I do not understand why. It was a GLORIOUS tribute to a) the TV show that Lucas would have produced if he hadn't sold the franchise to Disney and b) to the video game that was cancelled, 1313, and now I wish we would have gotten it so much more than before.
  
• I cannot wait for episodes 11 and 12 and I almost wish I had waited another week or so, so that I can watch all 12 episodes together.
• Episodes 9 and 10 invoked the same emotions in me that Revenge Of The Sith had. The thought that so many things could have gone differently so that the Republic and the Jedi could have been saved, was pretty overwhelming. I loved it.
• Dave Filoni should be given a Magna Carta of the franchise of Star Wars, and be able to create, retcon, reshoot, plan, execute, write, direct and cast all past and future Star Wars projects. The man is an absolute genius. The dialogue in the episodes he directed is 100% Star Wars trademark, as created by George Lucas. Space opera, with philosophical implications, thought provoking, cheesy when absolutely needed to be cheesy, and playful when needed to be playful. I cannot wait to see what he will do within this franchise in the future, whether it is in the animated world, or in live action.
• The level of animation is phenomenal. There were scenes in all of the episodes that made me feel I am watching a live action show. The Martez sisters looked amazing, Darth Maul the same, and whenever you have grande sceneries and alien races (such as the Pykes), it really does look very very real.

Nah, he was already at that exact same level since before The Mandalorian was even a thought in anyone's mind. Filoni has proven this with episodes in TCW that were as good, or even better, than any story arc in Season 7.

 

Not talking about arcs, per se. But the filmmaking. The editing, the pacing, the lighting, the music choices, the more deliberate tension-building, etc. The last two episodes have been a step above all the rest in terms of film-making craft and style, IMO.

And Filoni improving is a good thing, not a critique. Shows that he’s an artist that’s open-minded and willing to change and grow. That’s what makes him a great creator, like George. He’s not in stasis.

 

It shows low key brilliance that this late in the game, in spite of Rebels coming after this. There are still questions about this journey like with Rex and Order 66. When it seemed like the old Lost Missions gave the route and Rebels told us what happened, TCW said, "Nope.". If Rex had the scar. If Bad Batch had dealt with the brain chips we wouldn't be having these discussions and these questions like this. It makes me sadder TCW is coming to an end. I enjoy the way it doesn't feed us answers and has these gaps which allows for this kind of speculative discussion on what will happen even when we know what comes after. Whatever the next animated series, it has some big shoes to fill.

It is more like TCW to not show us what happened there but only hint. Personally I hope what happens breaks the mold and pushes the envelope which is exactly what this arc is doing. It is fairly less predictable for TCW. I think however they go about the next episode, its all going to come down to god tier execution. The clip that was chosen for this week shows it, not spoilery at all since we saw some of it in the trailer. That scene is perfectly crafted. It's clear why the last two arcs were chosen. We see Ahsoka longing to escape the life she knows where she can't see how. Then we have Rex, wary, broken, lonely just let some of what's bottled up out. It's bittersweet.

Why isn't it Friday already?

 

I think you’ve touched on my thoughts. Ahsokas reaction to meeting Rex in Rebels is must give us a clue to his actions in TCW with order 66.

 

So the Emperor might avoid contacting Rex specifically for fear this might turn Anakin against him?

Oh there's another possibility!
Maul breaks loose, Rex is knocked out so isn't available when the Emperor contacts them.
Since he never received the Order he has no idea what's going on and his chip never activates.
Maul forces the ship out of hyperspace to make it easier to escape the fighting gets worse when the Emperor gives lets say Jesse the order and due to Maul and Ahsoka fighting Rex stumbles onto the clones and assumes they're targeting Maul.
When they start shooting at Ahsoka he's perplexed but here's what I'm wondering what if they need Rex to receive Palpatine's transmission to activate that chip since he IS the officer in charge and unlike the other clones he was bypassed due to being unavailable thereby the chip fails to activate?
All you need is Maul interfering so Rex doesn't get confirmation of the order via watching the original order from Palpatine and you have your reason why he doesn't turn.
The ship crashes with Maul, Rex & Ahsoka separated whether by escape pod in Rex's case or ship with Maul getting away and maybe Ahsoka pursuing him only to lost track of him when he switches ships so whilst Maul heads off to return to his Crimson Syndicate Ahsoka takes the opportunity to walk away.
Rex however eventually reaches a deactivated medical station like Rebels did but remembering Fives has the stored virtual medical droid (like the one from the Twilight ship during the Clone Wars animated movie) which locates the aberration with this making Rex recognise what Five was warning them about and using the opportunity to get it removed.
It would be nice if this is how he runs into Wolfe and Gregor but that's doubtful!

 

This clip Star Wars official account just posted is both heartbreaking and ominous; Ahsoka’s words hit me very hard.

 

How many episodes will this season consist of?

 

2 more isn't it?

 

The media buzz is upon us... I wouldn’t be surprised if the Final Episode gets better numbers than so very popular shows currently streaming on other platforms.

 

Two more.