You Need to Be Watching The Bad Batch

In 2008, Lucasfilm debuted ‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars” on the big screen to mixed reviews. Walking out with my longtime Star Wars friend after a Star Wars premiere, we both felt let down.

The animation was pretty neat, and it was cool to see Anakin and Obi-Wan again, but we felt like we’d sat through and hour-and-a-half of G-Rated kid’s movie. Rotta the Hutt? Snips? Meh.

When the show aired on Cartoon Network, I didn’t pay much attention given what I’d seen in the theater. However, as the show continued, a buzz began to build about how great The Clone Wars actually was.

So, when the home release came, I sped through every episode and watched again with commentary and featurettes from some dude named Dave Filoni.  Who, apparently, was working side-by-side with George Lucas in developing the characters and story arcs for the show. 

I was a fan.

Fast forward, and we’ve had the rest of The Clone Wars, Rebels and now the Bad Batch, all of which are available on Disney Plus. Dave Filoni has gone on to become one of, if not the most influential creative mind at Lucasfilm. To that point, he was recently promoted to Executive Creative Director at the company. 

There’s a bias against the animated universe held by some fans who believe the Original Trilogy is the be-all, end-all of Star Wars. Meaning, older folks who think Star Wars died after 1983. If you’ve allowed yourself to be swayed by these fans into NOT watching the animated shows, please reconsider. And if you liked The Mandalorian but haven't given the other shows a chance because "animation is for kids," you need to check yourself.

The previously aforementioned Dave Filoni, one of the masterminds of Mando, is heavily involved in creating, writing, and implementing iconic characters into the feature Star Wars Universe. You like Ashoka's debut in Mando Season 2? Get her ENTIRE ARC in Clone Wars and Rebels. Bo-Katan? The same thing. What’s a Darksaber? Welp, check out Disney+, because Rebels and Clone Wars have multiple arcs surrounding it. There’s a whole world of Star Wars that’s going mainstream, and it all emanated from a little film I didn’t really like in 2008.

Here’s a suggestion: Just start with The Bad Batch. We’re a few episodes in, they’re quick, fun watches and the only thing you’ll miss out on if you haven’t seen the other animated shows are a few member berries.  These shows ARE STAR WARS.  And if you like Star Wars, you should check them out.