The Clone Wars - Season Three Discussion Thread

[Scockery]

Rewatching this morning, I caught the THX-1138 reference.

[Jabba the Slug]

Last night after the episodes I went online onto CartoonNetwork.com to watch a short snippet/summary of them. I noticed in the "ARC Troopers" clip that they actually show a shot of Asajj running the ARC through and then kissing him while he's in mid-air, dying. I thought this was odd cause maybe I missed it while it was on TV.

While watching it this morning this part was, indeed, cut out. Probably to keep it kid-friendly. Hopefully the shot will be included in the DVD release (whenever that is).

[McMetal]

Last night after the episodes I went online onto CartoonNetwork.com to watch a short snippet/summary of them. I noticed in the "ARC Troopers" clip that they actually show a shot of Asajj running the ARC through and then kissing him while he's in mid-air, dying. I thought this was odd cause maybe I missed it while it was on TV.

While watching it this morning this part was, indeed, cut out. Probably to keep it kid-friendly. Hopefully the shot will be included in the DVD release (whenever that is).

Dude, thanks A LOT for posting this. I just checked out the clip on their site and you are 100% correct - that was pure badassery and totally cut from the episode that aired. I loved that scene already but this just makes it a million times better. It BETTER be on the DVD!

I did not care as much for Episode 1 as Episode 2. I find the clones a little boring sometimes, although it was more than worth it for the glimpses of Shaak-Ti, Bric, and El-Les.

I really disliked whoever did the voiceover work for Bric though, I though he was horribly miscast and the role really fell flat for me as a result.

The second episode was the best of TCW for me though - epic battle scenes and close quarters combat. Kamino was rendered beautifully I thought.

New stuff we saw:
Aqua Droids! Hell yes, Hasbro - start working on the sculpt NOW!
Grievous' escape pod...meh, ok not that cool, but kinda sorta
Clone Communication Specialists! (Or whoever those clones in the soft-goods were with Yularen)
Kaminoans - Ok, not really new but I want one badly for the animated line - purty please?
El-Les! Great that we're getting Bric and Shaak-Ti, but how about Mr Cantina dude too?
Clone Number 99! I don't see them making this either, but it was a cool appearance

And last but nowhere near least:

The Sentinel, er...Squid Droid. I'm conflicted on this because on the one hand they were so freaking cool, but come on, that is derivative as hell. Don't be ripping off The Matrix - you're better than that! Screw it, I want one anyway...

[Nicklab]

Watching the Clone Troopers train on Kamino was absolutely eye-opening.  Including the fact that the training officers seemed quite prepared to fail Domino squad and demote them to duty as part of the maintenance detatchments.  And now we know a lot more about Sgt. Bric, even if he was referred to as Master Chief on the show.

I for one was really impressed with how the storylines of these Clone Troopers from the "Rookies" episode from season 1 were weaved together to make these two episodes.  The "Rookies" episode really was one of the highlights of season one.  And now to get some more insight on these Clones and how they have the capacity for more individuality sheds some light on how some troopers excelled and could work their way through the ranks to rise up to the level of ARC Trooper.  Plus we now get to see some actual ARC Troopers, too!  And there are finally names for some of the ARC Troopers that were revealed in the ARC Troopers battle pack, like Commander Colt.

Ventress is becoming more of an interesting character as well.  I was disappointed by her absence from season 2.  But it's good to see her back and to see the friction between her and Grievous examined.

[Pete_Fett]

So are the episodes in Season 3 going to jump around in the timeline of the past two seasons?

Clearly the first episode takes place before the events on the Rishi Moon Outpost in Season 1.

And then in the intro for the second episode, it made it sound like that now that the Rishi Moon Outpost was destroyed, the seperatists were working on a plan to invade Kamino. And then when Grievous and Ventress were talking, it was like the first time they had ever worked together.

So did Season 3 Episode 2 actually take place at a point later in Season 1?

There's the under-lying theme of "Secrets Revealed" this season, I wonder if part of that will be giving us companion episodes to episodes from Seasons 1 and 2 that expand on those stories and reveal "secrets" about what happened. For example, you could consider S3 EP1 as revealing the "secret" origin behind the squad of clones on the Rishi Moon. And then S3 EP2 as revealing the "secret" fall-out from the destruction of the Rishi Moon outpost. I'm probably reading more into it than I should, since it is a kids show.

Of course, the other big reveal is that it appears at Sargeant Bric has been around all along, we just hadn't seen him before. Same goes with the Hem Dazon looking Bounty Hunter/Trainer. So it's almost like Bric has been retcon'd into the series from the start. Now that we've seen him in an episode, he makes a great choice for the mail-away figure this year.

[Darby]

I'm sure there's a timeline out there somewhere, but re-watching Rookies, there is actually a little scene there about a proposed attack on Kamino, so 3.2 definitely takes place sometime in season 1.  The show's done this before, with Hidden Enemy I think. 

Where this jumping around will get interesting is when/if we see progressions in the looks/age of characters (Ahsoka, Troopers).  Will they jump back to earlier times then?  Will it be too confusing for kiddies?

I have a lot of thoughts about some of the themes the show has brought up - I need to write them all down first.

[Scockery]

The one episode "Cat and Mouse" from season 2 with Admiral Trench took  place before the movie as well, making it the "first episode" so far.

[Jabba the Slug]

So are the episodes in Season 3 going to jump around in the timeline of the past two seasons?

Yes, the producers have mentioned that this season in particular will do a lot of jumping around. Probably more than the first two seasons.

And then when Grievous and Ventress were talking, it was like the first time they had ever worked together.

That was the first time they met. I liked that sequence a lot - when Grievous runs into Ventress kicking some poor ARC's ass. Like I mentioned above, I hope that the scene where we actually see her impale him and then kiss him is included in the DVD release, it was that good (not to sound dark or anything ).

So far it seems that episode 1 takes place during Season 1. But episode 2 might actually take place at a MUCH later time period - judging by the dialogue 99 exchanges with Echo and Heavy, he hasn't seen them in a long time. And then also Grievous and Ventress were taking time to plan out the attack after their first plan failed in "Rookies."

Obi-Wan seems to be running into Grievous way too much, though. Although it doesn't conflict with the way they talk and duel in ROTS, but this must be the 5th time they've dueled in the TCW series. As long as Grievous and Anakin don't meet in the series, continuity flow should work out fine.

[Jesse James]

Not much for me to add that hasn't already been said, but I really enjoyed this premiere...  Hands down some of the better episodes IMO, of the entire series.  The second episode was far better though, to me, as it really threw us some great "Star Wars Action" we've come to expect from the films. 

Space Battles
Lightsaber Battles galore
Clones/Droids duking it out

And 99 actually was a very touching character.  Incredibly sad end to him.  He was very tragic.

This series sets you up to love the Clones...  Then they're not so lovable in the movie.  It's a very odd thing.  My gf teared up a little over 99.  I swear I caught her rubbing her eyes because his death bothered her (even if just a little).

I like that they stuck with the theme of Bounty Hunters doing the training too, going back to the ties with the Republic Commando series, and those Mandalorian Bounty Hunter packs from Hasbro.  Cool stuff.

And more Jar Jar coming up...  And he's such a superior character in the cartoon compared to the movies.  I'll echo Jeff's sentiments that if you're automatically dismissing this cartoon because it's prequal-era-focused, you're doing yourself a disservice.  It's vastly superior to Episode 1 and 2, as far as I'm concenred.  It's been at the very least on par with Episode 3, and superior in many ways.

[Jesse James]

By the way, here's the deleted death of the ARC Trooper.

I said to my gf when she impaled the guy, "WTH?  They didn't show it!", and she just chalked it up to being a kid's show...  Really, was this that bad though, compared to eveyrthing this series has shown thus far?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WE11a9BXe54&feature=player_embedded

Cool though, and I kinda wish they hadn't cut this out.

[501ST]

Capt Argyus and Tal Merrik died via lightsabers in the chest with it shown so I think it's ridiculous censorship on Cartoon Networks' part.

[Keonobi]

Great episodes.  I liked the exterior shots of Kamino, particularly the bridges and landing platforms between the buildings.  I really liked 99 and I'm glad he got to do his part for his brothers.

Quick question, who was the 5th member of Domino Squad?  Heavy, Fives, Echo, Cut-up and ____?

[Scott]

Droidbait

[Brian]

I'll echo Jeff's sentiments that if you're automatically dismissing this cartoon because it's prequal-era-focused, you're doing yourself a disservice.  It's vastly superior to Episode 1 and 2, as far as I'm concenred.  It's been at the very least on par with Episode 3, and superior in many ways.

That is something I've really felt as well.  I don't mean to "pile on the prequels", because there are a number of things that I like, but the Clone Wars in general does seem to capture the "spirit" of the Originals a little more, and in some cases the characterization/relationships are better as well.  I've often thought you get a much better sense of the "brothers" relationship of Obi-Wan/Anakin here than we ever got in the PT, and the Anakin/Padme relationship seems to come across better as well.  They also seem to have a good feel when introducing new characters, vehicles, etc.  The majority of stuff seems fun, and all sorts of "Star Warsy".

Granted, having more room to introduce characters and flesh things out helps (instead of just one - or three - movies), but I do think many people may dismiss it because it is animated or because it is prequel-era based - but it really is entertaining.  I know I look forward to it each week, and it tends to suck me into buying more CW stuff I didn't necessarily plan to originally.

They have mentioned how this season will have more ties to the OT, and that will be interesting to see.  I like Scott's comment about the possiblity of Jango's replacement coming up later.  That could be interesting to see.

[Paul]

 I'll echo Jeff's sentiments that if you're automatically dismissing this cartoon because it's prequal-era-focused, you're doing yourself a disservice.  It's vastly superior to Episode 1 and 2, as far as I'm concenred.  It's been at the very least on par with Episode 3, and superior in many ways.

I agree wholeheartedly.  I have dismissed this whole thing since the beginning.  Anything that was written after 1984 has always got the automatic thumbs down from me.

I watched those episodes this weekend and now find myself wanting to go get Season 1 and Season 2 on DVD and the Movie that was released as well. 

Best of all, this is the ONLY incarnation of Star Wars my 9 year old daughter will sit through.  After Saturday's viewing she wanted to get "Star Wars" out and she and my son played for hours. (Thanks Hasbro and Hunter for the AT AT Walker, please send another I've lost mine to the kids)

I am not a Prequel lover yet, but the Clone Wars, like Brian said, does fill in the gaps for stuff that I thought was missing in the Ep I and Ep II.  If they would have started the prequel at "Clone Wars", I think I would have been in from the beginning.