Clone Wars guide for skippable episodes.

By Rogue Dakotan, in X-Wing Off-Topic

Hello. I know a lot of you despise any star wars that was produces after 1998, but in the case you've never watched The Clone Wars before, and didn't know where to start, I made a list that lets you know which episodes you might be safe skipping.

There are a lot of stinkers in TCW, but a lot of good stuff too.

So I compiled this list and ranked episodes on how skippable I thought episodes were.

My rankings are based on my own opinions , on how much impact the episodes have on the canon, introducing important characters and other stuff.

If you've always wanted to watch TCW but didn't want to wade through some of the poorer episodes, this list might help.

Also the list below is ordered chronologically which greatly improves viewing.

RANKINGS: S=Skippable, P=Probably Should Watch, M=Must Watch

RANK Episode Number/Name

M----------216 Cat and Mouse
M----------116 Hidden Enemy
S----------T The Clone Wars theatrical release
M----------301 Clone Cadets
P----------303 Supply Lines
P----------101 Ambush
P----------102 Rising Malevolence
P----------103 Shadow of Malevolence
P----------104 Destroy Malevolence
M----------105 Rookies
P----------106 Downfall of a Droid
P----------107 Duel of the Droids
S----------108 Bombad Jedi
M----------109 Cloak of Darkness
M----------110 Lair of Grievous
S----------111 Dooku Captured
S----------112 The Gungan General
S----------113 Jedi Crash
S----------114 Defenders of Peace
P----------115 Trespass
S----------117 Blue Shadow Virus
S----------118 Mystery of a Thousand Moons
P----------119 Storm over Ryloth
P----------120 Innocents of Ryloth
P----------121 Liberty on Ryloth
M----------201 Holocron Heist
M----------202 Cargo of Doom
M----------203 Children of the Force
P----------217 Bounty Hunters
P----------218 The Zillo Beast
P----------219 The Zillo Beast Strikes Back
P----------204 Senate Spy
M----------205 Landing at Point Rain
M----------206 Weapons Factory
M----------207 Legacy of Terror
M----------208 Brain Invaders
M----------209 Grievous Intrigue
M----------210 The Deserter
P----------211 Lightsaber Lost
M----------212 The Mandalore Plot
M----------213 Voyage of Temptation
M----------214 Duchess of Mandalore
M----------220 Death Trap
M----------221 R2 Come Home
M----------222 Lethal Trackdown
P----------305 Corruption
P----------306 The Academy
P----------307 Assassin
M----------302 ARC Troopers
S----------304 Sphere of Influence
M----------308 Evil Plans
M----------122 Hostage Crisis
P----------309 Hunt for Ziro
P----------310 Heroes on Both Side
P----------311 Pursuit of Peace
P----------215 Senate Murders
M----------312 Nightsisters
M----------313 Monster
M----------314 Witches of the Mist
M----------315 Overlords
M----------316 Altar of Mortis
M----------317 Ghosts of Mortis
M----------318 The Citadel
M----------319 Counter Attack
M----------320 Citadel Rescue
M----------321 Padawan Lost
M----------322 Wookiee Hunt
S----------401 Water War
S----------402 Gungan Attack
S----------403 Prisoners
P----------404 Shadow Warrior
P----------405 Mercy Mission
M----------406 Nomad Droids
MMM----------407 Darkness on Umbara
MMM----------408 The General
MMM----------409 Plan of Dissent
MMM----------410 Carnage of Krell
M----------411 Kidnapped
M----------412 Slaves of the Republic
M----------413 Escape from Kadavo
M----------414 A Friend In Need
M----------415 Deception
M----------416 Friends and Enemies
M----------417 The Box
M----------418 Crisis on Naboo
M----------419 Massacre
M----------420 Bounty
M----------421 Brothers
M----------422 Revenge
P----------502 A War on Two Fronts
P----------503 Front Runners
P----------504 The Soft War
P----------505 Tipping Points
M----------506 The Gathering
M----------507 A Test of Strength
M----------508 Bound for Rescue
M----------509 A Necessary Bond
M----------510 Secret Weapons
M----------511 A Sunny Day in the Void
M----------512 Missing in Action
M----------513 Point of No Return
MMM----------501 Revival
MMM----------514 Eminence
MMM----------515 Shades of Reason
MMM----------516 The Lawless
MMM----------517 Sabotage
MMM----------518 The Jedi Who Knew Too Much
MMM----------519 To Catch a Jedi
MMM----------520 The Wrong Jedi
M----------601 The Unknown
M----------602 Conspiracy
M----------603 Fugitive
M----------604 Orders
M----------605 An Old Friend
M----------606 The Rise of Clovis
M----------607 Crisis at the Heart
P----------608 The Disappeared
P----------609 The Disappeared: Pt. II
M----------610 The Lost One
M----------611 Voices
M----------612 Destiny
M----------613 Sacrifice

Actually thanks for that. A friend recommended I watch them but I did not feel like wading through 5 seasons. Might watch some of your 'M's and see if I agree with your ranking.

Actually thanks for that. A friend recommended I watch them but I did not feel like wading through 5 seasons. Might watch some of your 'M's and see if I agree with your ranking.

No problem. Enough of my friends were in the same boat as you that I decided to make this list for them. Figured I'd share here.

Watch:

407 Darkness on Umbara

408 The General

409 Plan of Dissent

410 Carnage of Krell

If you don't like those episodes then you won't like anything in the show lol. you might find something else you'll like.

If I had to recommend just a single episode it might be 414 A Friend In Need.

Edited by RogueLieutenant

The show makes the bracketing movies so much more watchable as you finally have some context for Dooku and Grievous, there's a slow story to the corruption of Anakin and there are some great battles, lightsaber or otherwise.

Also, many episodes are not for kids, unless you want your kids to watch episodes about depression, beheadings and cold blooded executions.

407 Darkness on Umbara

408 The General

409 Plan of Dissent

410 Carnage of Krell

If you don't like those episodes then you won't like anything in the show lol.

I love the show. Solid entertainment fir the mist part. Can't stand those episodes. The storyline had a really good basic concept, but absolutely butchered it in execution. The bad guy is so over the top he goes past one dimensional, into comical, then last that into just outright terrible. This debacle, after the horrible gungan episodes prior and a stupid buddy road trip comedy very nearly stopped me watching the show. Fortunately season 4 picks up a lot after the Umbara episodes.

You're the first person I've ever encountered who didn't like those episodes.

So I revise my above statement, if you don't like the Umbara episodes, maybe you'll find something else in the show you like lol.

Generally the episodes that focus on the clones and their struggles are the most interesting.

Generally the episodes that focus on the clones and their struggles are the most interesting.

That I agree with.

407 Darkness on Umbara

408 The General

409 Plan of Dissent

410 Carnage of Krell

If you don't like those episodes then you won't like anything in the show lol.

I love the show. Solid entertainment fir the mist part. Can't stand those episodes. The storyline had a really good basic concept, but absolutely butchered it in execution. The bad guy is so over the top he goes past one dimensional, into comical, then last that into just outright terrible. This debacle, after the horrible gungan episodes prior and a stupid buddy road trip comedy very nearly stopped me watching the show. Fortunately season 4 picks up a lot after the Umbara episodes.

That mini-arc reminded me much of the battles of WW1 where generals were *ahem* generally that one dimensional.

I don't think the movie is skipable. It's not one of the stronger storues, especially on first viewing. It has grown on me though.

That all being said, it is ahsoka's introduction to the series so it's worth showing I think. It also has Samuel Jackson and Christopher Lee doing their character voices for the only time.

I don't think the movie is skipable. It's not one of the stronger storues, especially on first viewing. It has grown on me though.

That all being said, it is ahsoka's introduction to the series so it's worth showing I think. It also has Samuel Jackson and Christopher Lee doing their character voices for the only time.

I agree that content wise it's important. But quality wise it might turn a lot of people off to the series. Also i think Sam Jackson does a terrible job in that movie lol.

Jabba's kid? there's some decent stuff in the movie, but overall i thought it was skippable.

Ahsoka becomes Anakin's padawan against his will. The end. That's all you need to know lol.

For the movie, I would recommend that someone watch the first half hour or so. The movie is obviously just a 3-part episode strung together, and the first of those episodes is not that bad. You get the stuff dealing with the war and trying to take a planet, and it introduces Ashoka. But stop once they win the battle and leave the planet.

407 Darkness on Umbara

408 The General

409 Plan of Dissent

410 Carnage of Krell

If you don't like those episodes then you won't like anything in the show lol.

I love the show. Solid entertainment fir the mist part. Can't stand those episodes. The storyline had a really good basic concept, but absolutely butchered it in execution. The bad guy is so over the top he goes past one dimensional, into comical, then last that into just outright terrible. This debacle, after the horrible gungan episodes prior and a stupid buddy road trip comedy very nearly stopped me watching the show. Fortunately season 4 picks up a lot after the Umbara episodes.

That mini-arc reminded me much of the battles of WW1 where generals were *ahem* generally that one dimensional.

I think that's definitely where it was meant to go. There's also more than a passing resemblance to the WW2 film Thin Red Line, swap Krell for the general and the Clones for US Marines and it's very much the same sort of thing. I'd say that arc is pretty much the best thing across the 6 series, the only things that even come close are the last Ashoka arc, the Maul arc and the rest of the Mandalore stuff.

OP, I pretty much agree with that list, the only things I would challenge would be the 510-4 droid arc, in my opinion the absolute low point of the series. I'd upgrade Clone Cadets, Rookies and ARC Troopers to MMM as well, they're great stories and a lot of the later stuff with Domino Squad and Fives in particular will be much more meaningful with their backstory filled in.

I think I'm one of the only people who enjoyed those episodes with the astromech droids in season 5 lol. I like astros.

Also they introduce Gregor, a Republic Commando, who later shows up in Rebels.

I think I'm one of the only people who enjoyed those episodes with the astromech droids in season 5 lol. I like astros.

Also they introduce Gregor, a Republic Commando, who later shows up in Rebels.

I like those episodes, mostly, since I love astromechs but we all have to admit the desert episode is less than thrilling. Especially when it was made since Lucas wanted the crew to make an episode about nothing. Though if you look at the behind the scenes stuff you will find a fair bit of the more weird or odd things in the series to be off the wall things that Lucas wanted to do. Likewise for those who ave watched the series I recommend this youtube channel, he has posted a number of the behind the scenes bits for The Clone Wars.

https://www.youtube.com/user/mranderson00001

Also, you are missing two episode arcs in your listing. Crystal Crisis on Utapau (okay to meh in my opinion) and The Bad Batch (very good, continues the clone arc and has Admiral Trench in it), granted these two 4 episode arcs are only animatics with voice acting and music but I think they are still counted as canon.

Links to the episodes:

Crystal Crisis on Utapau:

A Death on Utapau

http://www.starwars.com/video/star-wars-the-clone-wars-story-reel-a-death-on-utapau

In Search of the Crystal

http://www.starwars.com/video/star-wars-the-clone-wars-story-reel-in-search-of-the-crystal

Crystal Crisis

http://www.starwars.com/video/star-wars-the-clone-wars-story-reel-crystal-crisis

The Big Bang

http://www.starwars.com/video/star-wars-the-clone-wars-story-reel-the-big-bang

The Bad Batch:

The Bad Batch

http://www.starwars.com/video/the-bad-batch-star-wars-the-clone-wars-story-reel

A Distant Echo

http://www.starwars.com/video/a-distant-echo-star-wars-the-clone-wars-story-reel

On the Wings of Keeradaks

http://www.starwars.com/video/on-the-wings-of-keeradaks-star-wars-the-clone-wars-story-reel

Unfinished Business

http://www.starwars.com/video/unfinished-business-star-wars-the-clone-wars-story-reel

Heresy! There are no skippable Star Wars canon episodes.

And this list needs the comic limited: Star Wars: Darth Maul—Son of Dathomir. There were originally slated to be Clone Wars episodes.

You meant all of them.

Heresy! There are no skippable Star Wars canon episodes.

And this list needs the comic limited: Star Wars: Darth Maul—Son of Dathomir. There were originally slated to be Clone Wars episodes.

Also the pretty good novel Dark Disciple was based on unfinished episodes, and is much more enjoyable that Son of Dathomir.

I think I'm one of the only people who enjoyed those episodes with the astromech droids in season 5 lol. I like astros.

Also they introduce Gregor, a Republic Commando, who later shows up in Rebels.

I like those episodes, mostly, since I love astromechs but we all have to admit the desert episode is less than thrilling. Especially when it was made since Lucas wanted the crew to make an episode about nothing. Though if you look at the behind the scenes stuff you will find a fair bit of the more weird or odd things in the series to be off the wall things that Lucas wanted to do. Likewise for those who ave watched the series I recommend this youtube channel, he has posted a number of the behind the scenes bits for The Clone Wars.

https://www.youtube.com/user/mranderson00001

Also, you are missing two episode arcs in your listing. Crystal Crisis on Utapau (okay to meh in my opinion) and The Bad Batch (very good, continues the clone arc and has Admiral Trench in it), granted these two 4 episode arcs are only animatics with voice acting and music but I think they are still counted as canon.

Links to the episodes:

Crystal Crisis on Utapau:

A Death on Utapau

http://www.starwars.com/video/star-wars-the-clone-wars-story-reel-a-death-on-utapau

In Search of the Crystal

http://www.starwars.com/video/star-wars-the-clone-wars-story-reel-in-search-of-the-crystal

Crystal Crisis

http://www.starwars.com/video/star-wars-the-clone-wars-story-reel-crystal-crisis

The Big Bang

http://www.starwars.com/video/star-wars-the-clone-wars-story-reel-the-big-bang

The Bad Batch:

The Bad Batch

http://www.starwars.com/video/the-bad-batch-star-wars-the-clone-wars-story-reel

A Distant Echo

http://www.starwars.com/video/a-distant-echo-star-wars-the-clone-wars-story-reel

On the Wings of Keeradaks

http://www.starwars.com/video/on-the-wings-of-keeradaks-star-wars-the-clone-wars-story-reel

Unfinished Business

http://www.starwars.com/video/unfinished-business-star-wars-the-clone-wars-story-reel

Yeah. I guess I didn't list these since they weren't in the official chronological order list, though these are considered canon.

The utapau episodes are really good. Loved them.

I found the bad batch to be pretty lame and the characters were painfully cliche archetypes.

I think I'm one of the only people who enjoyed those episodes with the astromech droids in season 5 lol. I like astros.

Also they introduce Gregor, a Republic Commando, who later shows up in Rebels.

I like those episodes, mostly, since I love astromechs but we all have to admit the desert episode is less than thrilling. Especially when it was made since Lucas wanted the crew to make an episode about nothing. Though if you look at the behind the scenes stuff you will find a fair bit of the more weird or odd things in the series to be off the wall things that Lucas wanted to do. Likewise for those who ave watched the series I recommend this youtube channel, he has posted a number of the behind the scenes bits for The Clone Wars.

https://www.youtube.com/user/mranderson00001

Also, you are missing two episode arcs in your listing. Crystal Crisis on Utapau (okay to meh in my opinion) and The Bad Batch (very good, continues the clone arc and has Admiral Trench in it), granted these two 4 episode arcs are only animatics with voice acting and music but I think they are still counted as canon.

Links to the episodes:

Crystal Crisis on Utapau:

A Death on Utapau

http://www.starwars.com/video/star-wars-the-clone-wars-story-reel-a-death-on-utapau

In Search of the Crystal

http://www.starwars.com/video/star-wars-the-clone-wars-story-reel-in-search-of-the-crystal

Crystal Crisis

http://www.starwars.com/video/star-wars-the-clone-wars-story-reel-crystal-crisis

The Big Bang

http://www.starwars.com/video/star-wars-the-clone-wars-story-reel-the-big-bang

The Bad Batch:

The Bad Batch

http://www.starwars.com/video/the-bad-batch-star-wars-the-clone-wars-story-reel

A Distant Echo

http://www.starwars.com/video/a-distant-echo-star-wars-the-clone-wars-story-reel

On the Wings of Keeradaks

http://www.starwars.com/video/on-the-wings-of-keeradaks-star-wars-the-clone-wars-story-reel

Unfinished Business

http://www.starwars.com/video/unfinished-business-star-wars-the-clone-wars-story-reel

Yeah. I guess I didn't list these since they weren't in the official chronological order list, though these are considered canon.

The utapau episodes are really good. Loved them.

I found the bad batch to be pretty lame and the characters were painfully cliche archetypes.

They must have updated the list as it now has these episode arcs as well as both Son of Dathomir comic arc, and the Dark Disciple's 2 originally planned arcs on the list.

Oh nice. That's good to know.