Clone Wars wrap-up

Since the first season of Clone Wars is "in the can" I just wanted to reflect a bit on its successes and failures, and what I'd like to see in upcoming years.

Before I get started, I did want to point out that there is officially more CG animated Star Wars footage than all six live action movies put together. A new generation of fans are embracing this franchise, and for them this series is what comes to mind when someone mentions SW.

So what kind of legacy are we getting from this show? Are the messages the same? Are the plots and characters constant with the movies that came before?

The basic premise of good vs evil does consistently play out in each episode, much like the classic movies, you have your "white hats and black hats". For the most part the good guys win, although there are appropriate numbers of losses on both sides to make most battles seem "realistic". In a way I wish that the bodycount was a little less sterile, as most of the casualties are faceless clonetroopers and disposeable battle droids. Not that I'm wishing for anime-style carnage, but rather more moments as they were portrayed in the second and third episodes of the Ryloth trillogy- where you get a true sense of loss, as in the orphan girl Numa or the firebombing of the village filled with women and children. The events took place off camera, but get the point accross that good people do suffer in wars.

The Force does come into play, and thankfully in a less "weapon at my disposal" method than the prequels presented it. There have been a few nice mystical moments this season, as well as some good mentoring by the vetran characters. In a world full of "E.T.-style " messages that your elders are to be dismissed, tricked or feared, its nice to see Ashoka or the clones come to their mentors earnestly for advice.

The action sequences are truly a sight to behold, I cant wait for the blu-ray box set so I can make out all the details I've been missing. If I had one complaint, it would be I wish they would have waited another year to release the show,due to the fact that they would have had more character models built. some of the early episodes seemed a little sparse of the typical Lucasian diversity.

Looking forward, I hope that the show will continue to mature with its audience. I appreciate the classic throwbacks and lines from the movies, but I would also like to see more of the expanded universe come into play. The villans desprately need more fleshing out and need to win at least a couple of battles, lest the show seem too GIJoe-like.

All-in-all I give this first season thumbs up. With the introduction of the bounty hunter faction in the finalie, a whole gambit of new possibilities for stories on the fringe have opened. The Star Wars galaxy is ripe with story possibilities, and I can't wait to see where they take us next.