Set between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: The Clone Wars is one of the franchise’s most popular pieces of media. As the Republic’s forces, led by the Jedi and their armies of clones, have gone to war with the Separatists’ forces, led by the Sith and their armies of droids, the series has featured plenty of iconic characters from the prequel trilogy.
But the show has also introduced Star Wars fans to a bunch of exciting new characters, too. So, here are five characters from the Star Wars prequel trilogy that The Clone Wars improved, as well as five great original characters that were introduced on the show.
10 Improved: Anakin Skywalker
The tragic rise and fall of Anakin Skywalker in the Star Wars prequel trilogy should’ve played like the “Mr. Chips becomes Scarface” transformation of Walter White in Breaking Bad. However, with other plotlines taking center stage, a lot of Anakin’s arc felt rushed in the movies.
The Clone Wars gave Anakin’s grooming by Palpatine and gradual turn to the dark side of the Force more room to breathe, and his moralistic downfall felt more subtle and organic as a result.
9 Great Original Character: Captain Rex
Technically, Rex now holds the title of “Commander,” having been given it in a recent episode. But for most of the series, he was known as Captain Rex. Since all the clones have the same face, body, and voice, it’s been difficult for The Clone Wars to distinguish them. But there’s no mistaking Rex, who stands head and shoulders above the other clones in terms of heroism and toughness.
8 Improved: Darth Maul
In The Phantom Menace, Darth Maul was established as a sinister, terrifying, formidable Sith Lord as he killed Qui-Gon Jinn in cold blood. However, he was bisected and tossed into a bottomless pit by Obi-Wan Kenobi, so he didn’t get much of a chance to shine.
When he returned in The Clone Wars, having survived the incident and been fitted with robotic legs, Maul evolved into a more three-dimensional, well-developed character.
7 Great Original Character: Asajj Ventress
There aren’t a lot of female villains in the Star Wars universe, but Asajj Ventress could go toe-to-toe with the franchise’s most powerful male bad guys.
Her tumultuous back-and-forth with her master, Count Dooku, made for a riveting story arc, while her dual lightsabers that connect when she wanted a double-bladed weapon made her look both terrifying and badass.
6 Improved: Plo Koon
In the prequel trilogy, most of the members of the Jedi Council were thinly drawn and one-dimensional. The stories focused more on Obi-Wan, Anakin, Yoda, and Mace Windu, so the others were cast aside by the narrative. In The Clone Wars, these Jedi Knights’ roles were greatly expanded.
Plo Koon was one of the Jedi who transformed into a more interesting character in animated form. For example, he doesn’t see the clones as expendable like everybody else does, which is pretty noble.
5 Great Original Character: Saw Gerrera
Saw Gerrera is one of the most badass rebels in the Star Wars universe. Trained by Obi-Wan, Anakin, Ahsoka, and Rex to defend themselves, Saw and his brother Steela managed to free Onderon from the Confederacy of Independent Systems.
When a live-action version of the character was featured in Rogue One, played by the great Forest Whitaker, Star Wars fans were excited. Unfortunately, his role was drastically reduced in the Disney-imposed reshoots. Still, we have his storylines in The Clone Wars to enjoy.
4 Improved: Padmé Amidala
Padmé Amidala is a better character than she’s given credit for as she’s a monarch who fights alongside her people on the frontlines instead of hiding in a bunker, and she gets involved in politics to use her power for the greater good.
The Clone Wars has done a much better job of making Padmé a strong character than the movies did. Her secret marriage to Anakin was used as more of a story conflict in The Clone Wars than in the movies, too.
3 Great Original Character: Cad Bane
The Star Wars universe has always been populated by cool-as-ice bounty hunters, from Boba Fett to IG-88. Cad Bane has emerged as one of the franchise’s coolest, with his spaghetti western look and callous approach to morally shaky assignments like abducting Force-sensitive babies to be raised into a Sith army.
Hopefully, a live-action appearance in The Mandalorian — or one of the Disney+’s other Star Wars series — is in the cards for the future.
2 Improved: Kit Fisto
Although he was Palpatine fodder in Revenge of the Sith, Kit Fisto was made into one of the Star Wars universe’s noblest Jedi Knights in The Clone Wars. Futurama’s Phil LaMarr, one of the most iconic voice actors working today, brought a unique flair to Fisto’s voice (as he did with the handful of other Clone Wars voices he provided), making him stand out among the pack.
1 Great Original Character: Ahsoka Tano
Pretty much every Star Wars fan agrees that the best character to come out of The Clone Wars is Anakin’s plucky Padawan, Ahsoka Tano. As a young Jedi getting her first field experience, Ahsoka is ready, willing, and able to kick some Separatist ass.
Ahsoka is impulsive and occasionally rebellious, but she’s also incredibly strong-willed and heroic. Although she’s Anakin’s Padawan, Ahsoka receives guidance and wisdom from all the Jedi veterans she works with, from Obi-Wan Kenobi to Luminara Unduli.
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April 26, 2020 at 05:30AM
