3 exciting elements from The Clone Wars Season 1 from a first time viewer

I’ve been a major Star Wars fan for about a decade, and I shamefully admit this is my first time watching The Clone Wars. I’ve made it a point to consume all Star Wars canon, including comics, books, and TV shows. As it stands, I just finished Season 1 of The Clone Wars, and I was blown away.

Not only does this show provide much-needed context to Anakin Skywalker’s relationship with the Jedi Order, but also with Palpatine and the manipulation that comes with that. In Season 1, we are introduced to Ahsoka Tano, who becomes one of the most pivotal characters in Star Wars through the prequel trilogy up to the Mandoverse timeline. We also get to see a deep dive into the early stages of the marriage with Padmé Amidala and Anakin. It was an excellent experience overall!

Here are 3 exciting ideas from The Clone Wars Season 1 that stood out to me as a first-time viewer.

1. Asajj Ventress is who Anakin desperately wants to be

It’s no secret that Anakin becomes Darth Vader, and it’s also no secret how Anakin feels about the Jedi Order. Anakin sees the Jedi Order as an obstacle rather than a strength. Count Dooku has given Asajj Ventress the ability to do as she pleases and this stems from how Dooku saw Anakin in Attack of the Clones. Dooku saw a talented individual being held back and taught Anakin a valuable lesson: brute force is not always the answer. Asajj also had to learn this lesson in the first episode called “Ambush.” Ventress challenges Master Yoda and a group of Clones to a fight where she feels she has the advantage with brute force. However, brute force will never outlast clever fighting, and she learned that lesson hard that day. However, Anakin wants the same from the Jedi Order and wants them to turn him loose to allow him to reach his full potential. Ventress and Anakin have similar stories on different paths, which is fascinating to watch.

2. The Jedi ignore the arrogance of their own beliefs

When pirate Hondo Ohnaka nabs Count Dooku in the episode “Dooku Captured,” the Jedi are skeptical if it’s a trap or not. Dooku has been elusive for years now, and Anakin already has a history with him. Dooku understood that the arrogance of the Jedi would be their downfall, and it was. Eventually, the Jedi would become so full of a desire for power that it would be the one thing that takes them down. However, at the end of the episode, Anakin wonders why a bunch of pirates captured the Sith Lord. Obi-Wan Kenobi explains that this isn’t a win but a loss because the Jedi Order will be wondering the same thing, completely disregarding the standards and restrictions the Jedi give themselves.

Also, it’s always a joy to see Hondo Ohnaka in his first appearance in the franchise!

3. Clones are people too

Throughout Star Wars, the clones are considered a war machine that just doesn’t quit. The idea is to have a military that will obey orders and be replaceable. However, in doing so, they have lost their humanity, and the first season of The Clone Wars humanized the clones through Captain Rex, the Domino Squad, and more. One of the best examples is Ghost Squadron. Waxer and Boil stumble upon a Twi’lek named Numa, who shows them where her house once stood. The humanity of war starts to set in as Waxer and Boil understand why there are rules of engagement and take it upon themselves to take care of her. Obi-Wan even makes a good point by saying they are there to help, not to destroy.

As I continue my consumption of all the Star Wars canon, I look forward to seeing a new side of old characters that we have come to know and love.