Not only is The Clone Wars a phenomenal piece of Star Wars media, but it’s also a compelling expansion of characters and concepts introduced to us way back during the days of the original trilogy.
The Star Wars universe has always been a rich tapestry of ideas, characters, and themes, a wellspring of possibilities for creators to pull from when conceptualizing new stories. It’s why Dave Filoni, Supervising Director of The Clone Wars, was able to bring one of the Skywalker Saga’s most pivotal periods to dazzling life.
The story by itself is excellent. The characters are also incredible. But meshing the two seamlessly? Even better. To sweeten things even further is the fact that Filoni’s efforts have given new context to long-standing franchise favorites.
By putting us in a time period we already know, The Clone Wars gave us so many characters we had already met before. Some we knew deeply like Anakin and others we only got a glimpse of. However, The Clone Wars made their characters better.
Check out which original trilogy characters get the most out of their Clone Wars screen time.
Bossk
Reptilian bounty hunter Bossk appears briefly on the deck of Vader’s Star Destroyer in The Empire Strikes Back but disappeared promptly, leaving us with questions that the original trilogy never answered. That’s why, when The Clone Wars hit screens in 2008, many fans appreciated that Filoni and George Lucas circled back to a character once shrouded in mystery.
Even in a galaxy populated with pop culture’s strangest figures, there is something striking about Bossk. He exudes power, strength, and competence that was never initially explored and he left fans wanting. His presence is always welcome and we’re hoping he shows up again in some way (or any way) soon.
Bossk appears early on in The Clone Wars, often showing up alongside fledgling bounty hunter Boba Fett and seasoned killer Aurra Sing. His history with Fett stretches back further than many may have realized and makes their partnership even more fun to watch as the show progresses. His respect for Fett is made apparent immediately, making for an interesting dynamic given Bossk’s clear advantage in the strength and savagery departments.
We don’t get his backstory but we do spend plenty of time with him while he conducts business. He won’t amount to anything more than a side character and that’s fine with us. It’s a treat to see more of him in whatever medium or story we can.
Emperor Palpatine
If the prequels didn’t give you enough of a reason to hate Sheev Palpatine, then The Clone Wars absolutely will. From insisting that the Zillo Beast be killed (and subsequently cloned) to traveling to Mandalore because Sith doctrine stupidly doesn’t teach strength in numbers, Palpatine (with Darth Sidious working as an acceptable and rightly pejorative alternative) becomes even more of a deliciously deplorable character as the war rages on and the bodies continue to stack.
He really is a cruel dude and not always in a “you love to hate to him” kind of way. He uses his distinction as Supreme Chancellor to orchestrate some of the most terrible crimes in the galaxy. He becomes untouchable and he knows it. It honestly makes his role in Revenge of the Sith even more of a payoff for fans of the character. Not a great guy and you don’t ever want him to be.
Regardless, watching him work behind the scenes is a blast and threads the Skywalker Saga together expertly and compellingly. Palpatine’s villainy is the biggest, most frustrating constant in the series and the story wouldn’t work any other way.
Too bad The Rise of Skywalker brought him back only to waste him horribly. That movie is a travesty. But we digress.
Jabba The Hutt
For better or worse, Jabba the Hutt has been a franchise staple for years. During The Clone Wars, we get to see Jabba and most of the Hutt clan causing trouble for the heroes, all while maintaining control and remaining in power, of course. Hiring Sly Snootles to murder Ziro the Hutt probably doesn’t even rank amongst the Hutts’ most heinous crimes.
The slimy space slug has always been an oversized pest and becoming acquainted with his family of similarly revolting creatures only reinforces our collective hatred of him. But, like Palpatine, Jabba is sometimes a villain you love to hate. “Sometimes” being the operative word. Unlike Palpatine, though, Jabba can be reasoned with. He let Han Solo rove around the galaxy with the money for longer than the roguish dreamboat probably deserved. But he isn’t tied to the ways of the Sith so he can act however he pleases.
Making Jabba somewhat interesting and even more repulsive is just another testament to the galaxy-enriching power on full display in The Clone Wars. That being said, it’s probably best if his slime trail ends here. The Clone Wars gave us the information we needed. It won’t get any better than that.
Chewbacca
Chewbacca doesn’t show up too often during The Clone Wars but when he does, it’s a blast watching him onscreen. He appears in the final arc of Season 3, where he helps a not-so-merry band of Jedi Padawans escape a band of Trandoshan sport hunters.
Admittedly, this entry was born from the surprise we felt when the Trandoshans dropped him off on an Outer Rim planet, unwittingly introducing him to Ahsoka. It’s easy to forget that Chewbacca had a life and a history before Solo and A New Hope.
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He doesn’t really contribute much to The Clone Wars narrative but we do see further proof of his usefulness, chief among that proof being that he developed his technical skills early in his life. Definitely a handy Wookiee to keep around, even if it’s only for his brute strength. Luckily for anyone who hangs around him (and not-so-luckily for anyone who crosses him), he has a lot more going for him than mere physical might.
Chewbacca is a character who elevates everything he appears in (save for the unwatchable Star Wars Holiday Special) and The Clone Wars recognizes that. Honestly, he deserves a spot on every positively-framed Star Wars list, so here we are. He’s just the best.
Sy Snootles
You might be asking, “Who?” Well, if you’ve seen Return of the Jedi, then you’ve absolutely been treated to the musical stylings of this peculiar character. The lead singer for the Max Rebo Band, Snootles has always wanted to make it big (even if her grating screeches kept her from true stardom).
If nothing else, Snootles is a character who gets far more screen time than she deserves. We will admit, though, that she does do a good job doing the Hutt clan’s dirty work. Against our low expectations, she murders Ziro the Hutt in cold blood (for Jabba) and actually becomes a semi-important part of the criminal underworld.
And, to make her situation even sweeter, the Jedi arrive soon after and blame Cad Bane for the crime (not a terrible assumption, to be honest). Who would’ve thought? She’s exhausting to watch and hopelessly annoying. And that voice. Ugh. It’s absolutely unbearable.
So yes, we didn’t ask for more Snootles at all but we aren’t entirely sorry she comes back to grace Star Wars canon. Let’s just keep her in tertiary character territory, yeah? We don’t need any more of her.
Hard pass on a Sy Snootles origin series.
Boba Fett
Perhaps one of the greatest disappointments of the original trilogy is Boba Fett’s introduction and swift demise. It was perplexing then and it remains that way today. Heck, his underwhelming debut even inspired Captain Phasma’s wasted story (definitely not intentionally, though).
Luckily, The Clone Wars rectifies this in a big (and unbelievably satisfying) way. Interestingly,Boba isn’t given depth as much as he’s given purpose. His motivations are straightforward and hate-fueled, two perfect adjectives for this character. We get to see his drive, skill, and smarts shape him in surprising ways. We also see him team up with the likes of Aurra Sing, Castas, and Bossk. A power team to be feared and respected, for sure.
Boba adapts to his bounty hunter life incredibly quickly and repeatedly proves his competence as a leader and a warrior. He evolves from scowling little turd to frighteningly motivated go-getter quicker than we could’ve hoped. Jango would be proud.
Looks like you need to watch out, Mace Windu. Your path won’t cross with Boba’s often but when it does, you’d best stay on your toes. That botched assassination attempt was just a taste of what Boba can do.
Hopefully, we see even more of Boba moving forward.
Obi-Wan
What can we say about Obi-Wan Kenobi that hasn’t already been said? The guy is a legend in the purest sense, a paragon of honesty, virtue, and kindness. He is able to think big-picture and make decisions that benefit the greater good. He’s very much an essential foil for Anakin’s brash actions and unchecked stubbornness. Oh, and he can kick some serious butt, too.
But what makes The Clone Wars such an excellent way to explore Obi-Wan is its commitment to emphasizing failure as a necessary part of fighting any battle, whether it be a galaxy-spanning war or an argument between two friends. And as perfect as he seems, Obi-Wan fails. Often. And that makes every win feel earned and important. Kevin Kiner, the composer for The Clone Wars, is partially to thank for that. His musical accompaniments definitely add weight and power to Ob-Wan (and every other character, really).
Standout Obi-Wan moments during The Clone Wars include his successful navigation of The Box, his romance with Duchess Satine, and his frequent confrontations with Darth Maul. He’s easy to rally behind and the show gives us plenty of opportunities to do so.
I’d say Obi-Wan needs more screen time but that would just be greedy of me. We have enough to enjoy.
Yoda
Next up is Yoda, the Jedi Master of Jedi Masters, the wisest member of the Council and the most terrifying warrior in the Order. Yeah, this little guy packs one heck of a wallop. Don’t let his short stature and gentle spirit fool you.
The original trilogy paints Yoda as a swamp-dwelling sage who Forces X-Wings out of bogs and croaks out cryptic tidbits such as, “There is another,” and, more ominously, “You will be.” I’m beginning to suspect he enjoys keeping people guessing.
During the events of The Clone Wars, Yoda’s lessons begin immediately. In “Ambush,” he teaches the clones an invaluable lesson and, in doing so, secures a major win for the Republic. He’s a centuries-old voice of reason who knows a thing or two about when to act and when to let others learn. There’s plenty of this here and it’s always a delight to watch. He doesn’t have a prominent role by any means but he remains one of the best characters in the franchise.
So yes, while Yoda is often relegated to “background character” status, his importance is never questioned. And it likely never will be.
Yoda is another character who will never tire us.
Admiral Ackbar
Prior to his unceremonious death in The Last Jedi, Admiral Ackbar was one of the Rebellion’s greatest, most respected leaders. But his involvement with the Rebellion and the Resistance were only representative of Ackbar in his later years. Years before, Ackbar helped his people, the inhabitants of the underwater world of Mon Cala, reclaim their freedom from the Separatist Riff Tamson. And he looked great doing it.
“It’s a trap!” isn’t Ackbar’s only contribution to the Rebellion. It’s in the first arc of the fourth season of The Clone Wars that we see Ackbar in his butt-kicking prime.
Working together with Anakin, Padme, Kit Fisto, and Ahsoka to inspire a struggling Prince Lee-Char to rally his people, Ackbar displays political know-how that the original trilogy never hints at. It’s great to see another side of this iconic character. He doesn’t appear after the Mon Cala arc but his impact is undoubtedly felt. Way to go, Ackbar.
Thanks to the anthological structure of the series, there are plenty of fan-favorite characters spotlit in select episodes, many of them only loosely relevant to the others. Thankfully, Ackbar is one of them.
We likely won’t get more of him so his role in The Clone Wars will have to do.
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Grand Moff Tarkin
You can absolutely read James Luceno’s Tarkin if enjoy Star Wars literature and want more insight into the rigid, calculating Imperial leader. But if you are intent on just sticking to visual media, then The Clone Wars will give you everything you need to understand what Wilhuff Tarkin is all about.
Trusted with Republic secrets from the get-go, Tarkin quickly curries favor with Palpatine, planting the seeds for the former’s eventual rise to power prior to A New Hope. During the Jedi rescue from The Citadel in Season 3, we discover that Tarkin really doesn’t change much during his life. And that’s more than okay. Sometimes, confirmation of a person’s character is more interesting than added layers are.
He’s infuriatingly self-righteous and unfailingly cruel, two qualities that end up serving him absurdly well when Darth Vader becomes his new employer. So yeah, next to nothing has changed. He’s the same irritating suck-up, right up to his obliteration aboard the exploding Death Star. A true jerk to the very end.
But what do you think of this list? Which characters do you think are enhanced during The Clone Wars? Do you agree with us on these? Sound off in the comments below!