Across seven phenomenal seasons, The Clone Wars became one of the most brilliant and beloved pieces of Star Wars content in the franchise’s history, bringing incredible characters, emotional stories, and mass amounts of lore to the iconic property. With the movie and first season, the show did not get off to the most incredible start.
The movie was plain bad, but the first season was a vast improvement. Nevertheless, season one definitely does not reach the levels of other seasons and has some abysmal episodes to go alongside some of the phenomenal stories throughout it, something to which IMDb attests.
Worst – “Duel Of The Droids” (7.2)
“Duel Of The Droids” continues on from “Downfall Of A Droid” and sees the heroes set off for a rescue mission for R2-D2.
Grievous is consistently great in The Clone Wars, and this episode, which sees him come face-to-face in a battle with Ahsoka, is quite the moment, with Grievous murdering multiple clones in brutal fashion.
Best – “Rookies” (7.9)
The “Rookies” arc is one of the first great stories in the show and is one of those excellent episodes that focus solely on clones, one of the show’s biggest strengths.
It sees rookie clones – beloved clones at that – Hevy, Fives, Echo, Cutup, and Droidbait fend off a droid invasion on the Rishi moon as they wait for help from the republic, and Rex and Cody. The sacrificial explosion from Hevy is an emotional moment.
Worst – “Mystery Of A Thousand Moons” (7.1)
“Mystery Of A Thousand Moons” is a part of the average arc with the ever-annoying Dr. Nuvo Vindi and his lethal Blue Shadow Virus.
In this part of the arc, Ahsoka, Padmé, and the clones have gotten infected, and Anakin and Obi-Wan have forty-eight hours to find an antidote and save their lives, taking them to a mysterious planet.
Best – “Hostage Crisis” (8.1)
The finale of The Clone Wars’ first season, “Hostage Crisis,” is one of the best episodes of the season, and plays a role in developing Anakin and Padmé’s relationship, far better than the prequels did.
The episode sees Cad Bane and a team of bounty hunters take various politicians hostage in a plot to free Ziro the Hutt, unaware that Anakin remains in the building, ready to save his wife – who has his lightsaber – at any moment.
Worst – “Blue Shadow Virus” (6.8)
“Blue Shadow Virus” is the first episode of the extremely subpar two-episode arc, and is one of those easily forgettable stories of which the only positives are the relationships between the characters.
It sees Padmé and Jar-Jar captured when in search of a dangerous bioweapons lab belonging to the separatists, with the three usual heroes of Anakin, Ahsoka, and Obi-Wan having to step in to stop the virus spread and rescue Padmé and Jar-Jar.
Best – “Innocents Of Ryloth” (8.1)
“Innocents Of Ryloth” sees Obi-Wan and a group of clones head to the planet to sabotage a weapon of the Separatists, leading them to a small village.
The village is under the occupation of the Separatists and is getting used as a living shield. It is well crafted and has some touching, tense moments with the clones and locals, as well as typically great Obi-Wan content.
Worst – “Downfall Of A Droid” (6.7)
“Downfall Of A Droid” comes right before “Duel Of The Droids” and is not that memorable, save for Anakin’s care for R2-D2, and tension with Obi-Wan.
The episode revolves around Anakin and Ahsoka desperately setting off to find a lost Artoo before the Separatists reach not only their beloved friend but his memory bank.
Best – “Cloak Of Darkness” (8.1)
Asajj Ventress is one of the great villains of The Clone Wars and pops up here in “Cloak Of Darkness” to do battle with both Ahsoka Tano and Luminara Unduli.
The episode sees the Jedi take Nute Gunray as a prisoner to trial, without the knowledge that Dooku has dispatched Asajj to rescue the Viceroy.
Worst – “Bombad Jedi” (6.2)
Jar-Jar Binks was one of the most unpopular characters of the prequel trilogy. Despite the wonders, the show could do for various negative aspects to those movies; it could not save Jar-Jar content from either being awful or so offensively dull.
“Bombad Jedi” epitomizes this. It sees Padmé set off to Rodia to meet an old friend who betrays her and gives her up to the Separatists, leaving Jar-Jar and C-3PO to rescue her for the time being.
Best – “Lair Of Grievous” (8.3)
As mentioned earlier, General Grievous is excellent and quite underrated in The Clone Wars. The show does a fantastic job with villains, with the only negative being the lack of time we spend with them in their own arcs and episodes.
“Lair Of Grievous” is the unquestionable highlight of season one. Not only does it add a huge layer of brilliance to Grievous, but it adds to the beloved Jedi Kit Fisto. The episode revolves around Grievous proving himself to Dooku, who leads Fisto and his apprentice to Grievous’ lair.
