STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS TV SERIES
July 12th 2009 23:36
Category: Television
On November 22nd 2008 there occurred on Channel Ten, one of the commercial networks here in Australia, a singular event that frankly was amazing in its vision. And frankly there must have been something of a revolution or coup d’état at the Channel Ten offices frankly because they premiered the Clone Wars television series, the animated follow on from the animate Clone Wars movie, and shockingly they showed it all at a time when ordinary human beings could sit back and watch it in the comfort of their homes. This was truly astounding for an Australian network to do something like this, still it does have to be said Channel Ten have been ‘kind’ to science fiction viewers previously – showing the X-Files at a reasonable time, actually prime time evening TV. So someone in the programming department obviously took a gamble with this series opting to show it at a midday or pre midday timeslot depending on other scheduling.
Naturally the vigilant viridian gaze of the Green Lantern was turned towards this impending spectacular every midday for the several months in which the first season of this series ran on Australian television. A big Star Wars fan ever since that fateful day in 1977 when in during the Christmas Holidays in the Land of the Long White Cloud I first saw the original movie in a cinema with my mother, so when I heard about the television series it was always going to be something I would watch. Now the interesting thing is that this is not the first time that Clone Wars has apparently been on the small screen, the original hand drawn series that came out as the same time as Episodes II and III aired on MTV when it first appeared. Those who comprised that cast went on to do the animate Clone Wars movie and also ended up in this particular incarnation of the series.
The other interesting thing about this particular production is that it has become, so far, the small screen vehicle for George Lucas’ seminal saga. There are rumours of an actual live action Star Wars television series that was apparently either going into production this year or possibly even making its debut sometime this year, who knows certainly I’d be naturally keen to watch it and hopefully review it when it appears. So back to the animated Clone Wars series, this follows on from the animated Clone Wars movie that cropped up in early 2008 and was reviewed by yours truly.
I can remember as a kid watching real old episodes of the Flash Gordon show, the one that was made way back when, that was in black and white with the rocket ship engines being sparklers sparking and crackling to indicate that its engines were working and it was flying. Man have special effects come on since then, still the reason why I mention that old pot boiler of a show is that it had a certain vibe and liveliness to it. Sure the effects were lame but as a kid you’d sit there enthralled and wonder what was going to happen next. The show was naturally an episodic based series and quite often the bulk of the episodes would end on a cliff-hanger note, to keep the audience coming back for more. This is a format that George Lucas has adopted with the Clone Wars animated series, there are a few episodes that end with the trademark cliff hanger ending but there is that same vibe that the old Flash Gordon shows had in their story and even in the format.
Each episode of the Clone Wars series opens with a repeat of what has happened in previous episodes or has been occurring in other parts of the Star Wars galaxy, almost like the old newsreel footage of the Allies in the Second World War making their way closer to the heart of the Reich. Such is the way in which the series is presented, which considering the fact that the unfolding stories told in these episodes is set against an interplanetary conflict waged across the myriad inhabited and known systems of the galaxy. There is a frequent voice over at the start that denounces the actions of various evil villains such as Viceroy Nute Gunray or General Grievous in a manner reminiscent of those old news reels, these sinister characters are frequently engaged in what are termed ‘nefarious’ or ‘wicked’ plots against the beleaguered or struggling worlds of the Republic and the loyal, undermanned forces who are fighting for the values that are championed by the Galactic Senate and the Jedi Order.
From stories about the capture of Count Dooku by decidedly cunning and opportunistic Weequay pirates to General Grievous’ use of gigantic ion cannon armed dreadnaught known as the Malevolence to the enslavement of the homeworld of the Twi’leks by Separatist forces and its subsequent liberation these are but a sample of the various episodes that are covered over the course of the series. In fact the capture of Count Dooku by the pirates proved to be most amusing, especially when the villainous Count manages to escape and steals a vessel to return back to the Separatist forces Obi Wan Kenobi mentions to the pirate leader that he might be in a spot of bother, as Count Dooku now knows where he lives…
Time wise these various tales occur between the period of the events of Episode II Attack of the Clones and the finale of Episode III Revenge of the Sith, this is the in between period when nothing is certain although at various stages each side in the conflict seems poised to claim victory. Also there is a lot more focus on the Clone troopers themselves and their inactions with the various movers and shakers in the conflict, at some times this is humorous at other times touchingly poignant, consider the episodes involving the liberation of Ryloth, the Twi’lek homeworld and two clone troopers who rescue a young Twi’lek girl from the Separatists. It’s such a touching episode, and frankly I felt a deep sense of abiding sadness considering that the fate of the Clones is to age very rapidly and then die of old age in a relatively short span due to the process that created them in the first place. Even at war’s end they will never really be able to enjoy a normal life, their destiny is to be cut drastically short which is very sad. Still that moment of pathos aside, the Clone Wars television series was fun to watch and it was great to see that it was on at such a reasonable time. Hopefully if there is a second season in the wings Channel Ten will have the decency to screen it at a similar time, who knows, we can but hope. So far though I have to say George Lucas’ foray onto the small screen with this series is…impressive…most impressive.
I can remember as a kid watching real old episodes of the Flash Gordon show, the one that was made way back when, that was in black and white with the rocket ship engines being sparklers sparking and crackling to indicate that its engines were working and it was flying. Man have special effects come on since then, still the reason why I mention that old pot boiler of a show is that it had a certain vibe and liveliness to it. Sure the effects were lame but as a kid you’d sit there enthralled and wonder what was going to happen next. The show was naturally an episodic based series and quite often the bulk of the episodes would end on a cliff-hanger note, to keep the audience coming back for more. This is a format that George Lucas has adopted with the Clone Wars animated series, there are a few episodes that end with the trademark cliff hanger ending but there is that same vibe that the old Flash Gordon shows had in their story and even in the format.
Each episode of the Clone Wars series opens with a repeat of what has happened in previous episodes or has been occurring in other parts of the Star Wars galaxy, almost like the old newsreel footage of the Allies in the Second World War making their way closer to the heart of the Reich. Such is the way in which the series is presented, which considering the fact that the unfolding stories told in these episodes is set against an interplanetary conflict waged across the myriad inhabited and known systems of the galaxy. There is a frequent voice over at the start that denounces the actions of various evil villains such as Viceroy Nute Gunray or General Grievous in a manner reminiscent of those old news reels, these sinister characters are frequently engaged in what are termed ‘nefarious’ or ‘wicked’ plots against the beleaguered or struggling worlds of the Republic and the loyal, undermanned forces who are fighting for the values that are championed by the Galactic Senate and the Jedi Order.
From stories about the capture of Count Dooku by decidedly cunning and opportunistic Weequay pirates to General Grievous’ use of gigantic ion cannon armed dreadnaught known as the Malevolence to the enslavement of the homeworld of the Twi’leks by Separatist forces and its subsequent liberation these are but a sample of the various episodes that are covered over the course of the series. In fact the capture of Count Dooku by the pirates proved to be most amusing, especially when the villainous Count manages to escape and steals a vessel to return back to the Separatist forces Obi Wan Kenobi mentions to the pirate leader that he might be in a spot of bother, as Count Dooku now knows where he lives…
Time wise these various tales occur between the period of the events of Episode II Attack of the Clones and the finale of Episode III Revenge of the Sith, this is the in between period when nothing is certain although at various stages each side in the conflict seems poised to claim victory. Also there is a lot more focus on the Clone troopers themselves and their inactions with the various movers and shakers in the conflict, at some times this is humorous at other times touchingly poignant, consider the episodes involving the liberation of Ryloth, the Twi’lek homeworld and two clone troopers who rescue a young Twi’lek girl from the Separatists. It’s such a touching episode, and frankly I felt a deep sense of abiding sadness considering that the fate of the Clones is to age very rapidly and then die of old age in a relatively short span due to the process that created them in the first place. Even at war’s end they will never really be able to enjoy a normal life, their destiny is to be cut drastically short which is very sad. Still that moment of pathos aside, the Clone Wars television series was fun to watch and it was great to see that it was on at such a reasonable time. Hopefully if there is a second season in the wings Channel Ten will have the decency to screen it at a similar time, who knows, we can but hope. So far though I have to say George Lucas’ foray onto the small screen with this series is…impressive…most impressive.
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