The 3 Most Underrated Arcs Of 'The Clone Wars'

As most Star Wars fans know by now, some of the best Star Wars storytelling is contained within The Clone Wars animated show. With plentiful lightsaber duels, clone vs droids firefights, political intrigue, and social commentary, there is something for everyone in this well-written and highly entertaining show. While many audiences are familiar with the most popular arcs of this show, including Umbara, the Siege of Mandalore, and the Ryloth arc, there are several exceptional stories within the show that do not receive the recognition they deserve. Here we will be examining three of these arcs and what they bring to the show as a whole.

Return to Geonosis

As the Clone Wars rage on, the clone army continues the hunt for General Grievous, hoping to bring a swift end to the war. This strategy proves flawed, however, as numerous systems take advantage of the departing security forces to rise up and reclaim the planet in the name of the Confederacy. One of these planets is Geonosis, the home of CIS council member Poggle the Lesser.

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As usual, the arc centers around Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Ahsoka, with Ki-Adi-Mundi, Luminara Unduli, and Barriss Offee providing support. The arc details exactly how the Separatist planet was wrestled away from Republic control after the events of Attack of the Clones. Easily the strongest part of this arc is the variety of storytelling within it. From a action-packed military landing, to the destruction of a droid factory, to a bizarre Geonosian zombie attack, this arc has a little bit of everything that makes The Clone Wars great. While arcs like Umbara specialize in one particular narrative, the cost of war and poor leadership through the eyes of the clones, "Landing at Point Rain" and the three episodes that follow it show the scope of the galactic conflict and the diversity of the galaxy and it's planets and lifeforms.

D-Squad

George Lucas' personal favorite arc of The Clone Wars, the story of Colonel Meebur Gascon and D-Squad has drawn much ire from Star Wars fans, primarily for its lack of Jedi and its meandering, whimsical approach to its plot. While the arc could certainly have been condensed into three episodes, as opposed to its four-episode runtime, the unique story it has to tell is centered around a cornerstone of Star Wars storytelling: droids.

As Princess Leia puts it, "never underestimate a droid," and this phrase could not be truer when it comes to the D-Squad arc. While the Colonel and the pit droid WAC can come off as cartoonish buffoons at times, the rest of D-Squad, including R2-D2, are able to execute a dangerous mission behind enemy lines despite numerous setbacks. This includes assistance from Clone Commando Gregor on the outlandish Outer Rim world of Abafar in one of the best shootouts of the show. The showcasing of QT-KT in the Star Wars universe through this arc makes these episodes worth a watch.

Boba Fett

The end of season 2 takes a deep dive into the character of Boba Fett. The clone and adopted son of the Mandalorian bounty hunter Jango Fett has been a fan favorite since he was first seen onscreen in the Star Wars Holiday Special. Inspiring an entire in-universe culture with his character design and gunfighter persona, Boba was one of the characters to benefit the most from the prequels and The Clone Wars as his backstory and motivations were explored like never before. The best example of this is the three-episode arc beginning with "Death Trap."

Seeking revenge for his father's death at the hands of Mace Windu, Boba sneaks aboard a Jedi cruiser and attempts to assassinate the Jedi master. While the story does not necessarily carry galactic implications, it is great for a number of action-packed moments, including Artoo out-flying Bossk, a thrilling rescue from the bridge of a crashed cruiser by the 104th, and a standoff between Plo Koon and Aurra Sing. While the plot itself is relatively contained, the implications for the characters are truly galactic. With clones of Jango Fett waging a galaxy spanning war and his son soon to become the greatest bounty hunter in the galaxy, his legacy is undeniable. Hondo Ohnaka serves as surprising insight into the Fett character, reminding Boba that, at his core, Jango was a man of honor. The episode also examines Windu's feelings about Boba and further drives home the point that he has been consumed by the dogma of the Jedi with his cold treatment of the angry young vigilante. Boba's character is reflected by his interactions with Windu, his bounty hunter cohorts, and his interactions with the clones that share his and his father's face.

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Written By Weston Erickson

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