Star Wars Prequels and Clone Wars: A Hypothetical Redesign

Many Star Wars fans often reflect on what could have been if certain changes had been made. A common discussion revolves around whether the Star Wars prequels would have been better had they incorporated the plot and characters from the Clone Wars show. In this article, we explore the potential benefits and drawbacks of this hypothetical scenario, focusing on the arc of Anakin Skywalker and how it could have been more compelling and cohesive.

Continuity and Arcs

One of the critiques of the original Clone Wars series (in the 2008 format) was its lack of proper continuity and the difficulty in tracking what episodes aired in which season and in what order. This proper chronological order is crucial for understanding the rich narrative and character development present in the show. If the prequels had been told in a similar fashion, the true significance and power of these arcs might have been diminished.

The Role of George Lucas

Blame for the failings of the prequels largely falls on George Lucas. He stuffed too much of The Phantom Menace with clunky dialogue and overly complicated leaps of logic. However, upon closer inspection, the arcs involving Anakin, Padmé, and Obi-Wan were generally well-established. If a new approach were taken, perhaps incorporating Machete Order principles, we might have seen a more dynamic storytelling experience. Let’s explore some hypothetical changes that could have made the story more engaging.

A Hypothetical Reimagining

One idea is to scrap the Phantom Menace as we know it and instead create a new cinematic release that serves as Episode II, with Attack of the Clones becoming the new Episode I. This new storyline could include several key elements:

Asajj Ventress as a counterpart to Maul A red herring that she and Darth Tyranus (Dooku) are the Sith duo Parts of Qui-Gon Jinn’s backstory, building tension between Anakin and Obi-Wan More character development for Anakin and Padmé, focusing on his attachment issues and his status as The Chosen One Flashbacks to establish past events and provide greater understanding

Incorporating Clone Wars Elements into the Reimagined Arcs

The Clone Wars series offers a wealth of material that could enrich these hypothetical episodes. Here are some elements that could be used:

The camaraderie between Anakin and Ahsoka Tano Humanizing the clones, especially Rex and Cody Dooku's betrayal of Ventress, leading to the revelation of Sidious More time spent on Anakin and Padmé’s relationship, with a focus on his attachment issues after his mother's death Realigning the spiritual elements of the Force, abandoning midichlorians The Mortis Arc, which could serve as a powerful conclusion to the narrative

The Post-Clone Wars TV Series

Following this new Episode II, the remaining parts of the Clone Wars series could serve as a TV continuation. This series could provide useful information while not being essential to understanding the main narrative. Key events like Pong Krell's defection, the Water Wars arc, and Ahsoka's expulsion would be integrated into this secondary storyline.

The Final Act: Revenge of the Sith

With the groundwork laid by the reimagined Clone Wars episodes and the TV series, Revenge of the Sith could then conclude the saga in a more satisfying manner. The opening crawl would remain largely unchanged, but the arc would now be clearer. The dramatic irony of the audience knowing Palpatine’s true nature while the characters do not would provide a deeper emotional impact. Lending an additional focus to Ahsoka's departure and Anakin's growing resentment of the Jedi Order would add a layer of complexity to Anakin's journey toward the dark side.