18 Years Later, This 10/10 Star Wars Masterpiece Just Keeps Getting Better & Better

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For many years, Star Wars was known simply as a series of films. However, that began to shift 18 years ago when George Lucas decided he wanted to create a Star Wars television show. He first considered a live-action series called Star Wars: Underworld, planned to take place between the existing movie trilogies, but ultimately scrapped the project due to its high cost. Instead, Lucas turned to animation, and in 2008, Star Wars: The Clone Wars premiered.

The first four episodes were originally released as an animated movie in theaters. While some fans weren’t thrilled with the new character Ahsoka Tano, the show quickly gained popularity. Today, after 18 years, The Clone Wars is considered a hugely important part of the Star Wars universe – some even believe it’s as significant as any of the films.

The Clone Wars Stumbled At First, But Got So Much Better

The early seasons of The Clone Wars weren’t perfect – the show jumped around in time, which could be confusing, and Lucasfilm even released a guide to help viewers follow the story. However, the series eventually found its footing by balancing serious and lighthearted moments, and by allowing audiences to connect with the characters. Ahsoka, voiced by Ashley Eckstein, was a standout, becoming a beloved and iconic character who remains popular with fans, rivaling even the Jedi from the films.

Despite being a cartoon, The Clone Wars often deals with surprisingly mature themes. The Jedi aren’t portrayed as simple heroes; they’re flawed characters who sometimes make terrible decisions, even committing war crimes, and the series shows the psychological toll war takes on them. The clone troopers also become more compelling, and a clever plot twist reveals they aren’t responsible for Order 66 – they’re victims of Palpatine’s manipulation through brain implants.

This wasn’t the only time the story was changed, though. George Lucas used The Clone Wars series to fix issues with the prequel films, notably bringing Darth Maul back to life as a key player in the war. The series developed Maul into a major rival for Obi-Wan Kenobi, and a storyline involving Mandalorians tested Obi-Wan’s limits, highlighting his strong moral character compared to Anakin – particularly his ability to resist the dark side even when facing loss. As the series went on, the stories became more complex and mature, growing alongside its viewers.

The Clone Wars Have Become Crucial to Modern Star Wars

When Disney bought Lucasfilm, they first decided to end The Clone Wars. Executives wanted to put their own spin on Star Wars and weren’t keen on continuing a TV show on another network. They then greenlit Star Wars Rebels, surprisingly keeping the same creative leaders, including Dave Filoni, who had been a protégé of George Lucas on The Clone Wars. Rebels eventually felt like a continuation of The Clone Wars, even bringing back the character Ahsoka Tano. While Rebels was arguably a better show, that’s largely because Filoni and his team had gained valuable experience from working on The Clone Wars.

Looking back, it’s amazing how much The Clone Wars paved the way for everything we’ve seen on Disney+ since. The Mandalorian really expanded on the Mandalorian culture George Lucas first hinted at, The Book of Boba Fett picked up a storyline Clone Wars never finished, and Ahsoka? That’s Anakin’s Padawan, Ahsoka Tano, brought to life by Rosario Dawson. Even the newer show, The Acolyte, feels connected – those Force witches clearly take inspiration from the Dathomiri Nightsisters we first met in The Clone Wars. It’s clear that show wasn’t just a great animated series, it was the foundation for this whole era of Star Wars television.

After a long hiatus, The Clone Wars came back for a seventh and final season in 2020 and is now widely considered a standout story in the Star Wars universe. The last four episodes directly connect to the events of Revenge of the Sith, enriching the film with new depth. This final season has already led to two spin-off shows: The Bad Batch and this year’s Maul – Shadow Lord, both taking place during the oppressive era of the Empire. With each new addition, The Clone Wars continues to gain even more appreciation and build upon its legacy.

Dave Filoni is Now Key To Lucasfilm’s Future

Dave Filoni has become a key leader at Lucasfilm, now serving as co-president and overseeing the creative vision for Star Wars. Lynwen Brennan will continue to manage the business aspects. This essentially means the direction of Star Wars is now heavily influenced by The Clone Wars – the animated series George Lucas hired Filoni to work on, and the valuable experience Filoni gained from Lucas himself. After 18 years, The Clone Wars isn’t just a part of Star Wars’ history; it’s actively shaping its future.

Do you think Lucasfilm chose wisely by appointing Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan? Share your thoughts and join the discussion in the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-01-24 19:41