“Star Wars: The Clone Wars” is back for its final season, and its opening episode’s message is something all “Star Wars” fans should take to heart.
“The Clone Wars” is an animated show that focuses on the war between the Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems (or the Separatists). Set in between “Attack of the Clones” and “Revenge of the Sith,” it’s a wide-ranging show that includes legendary “Star Wars” characters, including Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Darth Sidious, Darth Maul, Yoda, Mace Windu and so many more.
The show originally ran for five seasons before coming back for a “Lost Missions” season — now aptly titled as a sixth season — and, now, a seventh and final season is airing exclusively on Disney Plus. The first episode dropped Friday morning. Future episodes will drop on a weekly basis.
The seventh season’s first episode centers around Clone Troopers battling against the Droid Army. Captain Rex wants to go behind enemy lines to find out how the droids have figured out all of the clones’ tactics. It includes Rex’s team linking up with the experimental Clone Force 99 — a group of Clone Troopers who are not as perfect as the others and are nicknamed “Bad Batch” — to take down the droids. The episode is a simple one. We’ve seen plenty of episodes like this before.
But the episode kicks off with a quote all “Star Wars” fans can learn from. The quote reads: “Embrace others for their differences, for that makes you whole.”
There isn’t a more important line for the “Star Wars” universe right now. As I’ve written about before, the “Star Wars” fan culture is at a crisis point. Fan culture has become toxic and filled with online arguments. There’s increased polarization. “The Last Jedi” fans hate “The Rise of Skywalker.” At the same time, the prequels are highly regarded by many but hated by others. There’s a huge divide among fans about what makes a good “Star Wars” show.
But the quote about embracing others includes an important lesson for fans. Embrace your fellow fan no matter what their opinion is on the franchise. “Star Wars” fans — like the “Bad Batch” and the regular Clone Troopers in the Clone Wars episode — should unite together for a common cause. Become one “Star Wars” fandom.
Captain Rex and team advance on enemy lines in “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” exclusively on Disney Plus.
DTCI Media
During another moment in the opening episode, Captain Rex gazed at a photo of his former squad-mates, including Fives, Echo and Heavy. “So many troopers, gone,” he said. It’s a moment that tells us time has surely passed and that battles and war take us all down eventually.
But Commander Cody’s reply signals another truth. He said: “It’s hard to be the one who survives.” Indeed. It is hard to last through the entire span of something — whether it be war or the length of a saga of films. Surviving as a “Star Wars” fan from 1977 to now would be nearly impossible. You’re bound to find something you dislike. And if not, you still have to fight with the newcomers, too.
“The Clone Wars” kicked off its last season with a war-filled episode that will certainly have fans talking — it ends on a wicked cliffhanger and includes a few Easter eggs, which I’ll point out in another article. But the episode tells all “Star Wars” fans that it’s time to unite one more time and get through the ongoing battle together.