Essential Star Wars

May 4th – a suitable day to mark the release of the final episode in the final season of The Clone Wars – a show for which, for the longest time, we didn’t think we would ever see the true conclusion. Thanks to the internet, Disney+, and a tailwind of fan power, the thrilling climax of the Dave Filoni-led epic has been realised.

Epic, epic, epic.

I joined The Clone Wars party late. Sure, 11-year-old me sat in the cinema for the movie in 2008, but the film failed to lock me into the TV series that was to follow. Unsurprising really – the film was four of the weakest Clone Wars episodes strung together to form a hodgepodge feature length piece. I dabbled in the TV episodes that followed, but I wasn’t following the story.

Eventually, this Star Wars fan caved after hearing almost relentlessly good things about the TV series’ that followed. I bought the Blu-Ray boxset, dived in and found relentlessly good Star Wars content.

Fast-forward to this year, it was a treat to watch a season of Clone Wars with the rest of the world, joining the party in time to live the best season of the bunch with the fandom – the final four episodes in particular blowing expectations out of the water.

Make no mistake, The Siege of Mandalore arc is some of the best Star Wars content ever made. The episodes string together seamlessly to form what would be a high ranking Star Wars movie, filled with incredible action and emotion, punctuated by one of the best lightsaber duels in the franchise and an Order 66 sequence that makes me shed a Rex-esque tear every time.

And that’s one thing I didn’t expect from the series’ conclusion. I haven’t been as invested in the Clone Wars compared to fans who grew up with the series at the core of their fandom. I didn’t expect the themes of the finale to hit me as hard as they did.

It was an inspired decision to create the Ahsoka and Maul duel with motion capture. Ray Park and Lauren Mary Kim delivered incredible intensity and energy to the fight which was grounded in reality as a result – something that has always been lacking from the animated tussles.

Beyond the duel, three emotion riddled moments stood out. The first came just 10 minutes into the opening episode, as Ahsoka is greeted by a division within Anakin’s 501st squadron that painted their helmets in her colours.

Despite leaving the Jedi Order and in turn abandoning the Grand Army of the Republic, the clones remain loyal to Ahsoka. Given what we know is to come, this show of solidarity towards their former commander is touching. This is the true nature of the clones, unencumbered by the inhibitor chips that store their collective doom.

Speaking of which, the gut-wrenching Order 66 scene was perfect. The single tear that rolled down Rex’s cheek as he desperately tried to deny his programming, blasters shaking. The use of the “Anakin’s Dark Deeds” theme from John Williams’ Revenge of the Sith score as the clones open fire on Ahsoka breaks your heart. Just one of many examples where the events of this arc will no doubt make Episode III re-watches all the more emotional in the future.

The final shots of the entire series see Darth Vader exploring the wreckage of the Republic cruiser that Ahsoka and Rex escaped from. Upon finding Ahsoka’s abandoned sabers – the ones that Anakin returned to her at the start of the arc – Vader no doubt assumes his former padawan died in the purge. A moment that adds weight to their reconnection in Rebels.

You need to get it right when delivering a new storyline that runs parallel to existing material. Botch the delivery and you can end up tarnishing your existing material. Fortunately The Siege of Mandalore is pitch perfect.

Star Wars fans need to see this content. The sad reality is that a lot of the more casual members of the fanbase will skip over an animated TV show. Maybe a theatrical release will encourage them to engage with what is peak Star Wars content.

“Ahsoka: A Star Wars Story,” or maybe just “Star Wars: Siege of Mandalore.”