The savior of the Star Wars franchise may finally be here.

After Episode IX and The Mandalorian, Star Wars finds itself in a strange place. 

Many fans are worried that Disney, who bought Star Wars in 2012, has lost the idea of what Star Wars should be like, while others are confident that The Mandalorian shows a step in the right direction. But on February 21, this confusion should be resolved: the beloved animated series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, is returning for a final season on Disney+. 

Why it was great

The Clone Wars series was an animated Star Wars series that aired on Cartoon Network and Netflix from 2008 to 2014. The series contained events that happened between Star Wars Episode II and III. The show separated itself from the large amount of other Star Wars media by characterizing Anakin Skywalker in a charming and heroic way. Skywalker was actually likable, something the prequel trilogy was infamous for failing to accomplish, at least until Episode III. The series was also one of the first instances of clone trooper characterization, with fan favorite Captain Rex being a prominent character throughout the series. Other notably new characters known as fan favorites were Skywalker’s padawan Ashoka Tano, the re-introduced Episode I villain Darth Maul, and other clones like the members Domino Squad. The series also gave more screen time to old characters like General Grievous, Yoda, and Padme Amidala who took more backseat roles in the movies. The Clone Wars received many awards and currently holds a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes.

The return (spoiler warning)

On July 19, 2018 Lucasfilm announced that the series would be returning with 12 new episodes to Disney Plus on February 21, 2020. 

“I’m glad they are bringing it back; it was a show I really cared about,” explained Cole Hannenberg. 

The official trailer was released January 22. From the trailer, fans can assume some key story points, first is that at least part of the season will take place during the events of episode III. Next, the season will most likely focus around Ahsoka Tano during the siege of Mandalore (an important planet in the series). Finally, the season will likely end with a final battle between Ashoka and Darth Maul. This is only a small part of what the trailer shows, but these speculations have drawn the most attention for long-time fans and from new fans alike. 

“I didn’t watch the show as a kid,” said Daniel Pardi, “But I’m watching it now, and I’m glad they brought it back. it looks like they are going to wrap it up in a satisfying way.”

The return of the show, along with the info gathered from the trailer, have given hope to Star Wars fans that the beloved franchise can still produce quality content.