List Of The Saddest Episodes In 'The Clone Wars'
When The Clone Wars TV series released in 2008, it was met with high reviews and was loved by fans of all ages. The series aired from 2008 to 2020 and through that time it shed more light on the Clone Wars itself, introducing new Jedi and clone characters alike. It gave Anakin Skywalker a much more realistic fall to the dark side and provided depth for every character involved in the films. But despite being promoted as a show for children, there were several episodes that seemed to be geared more towards its older audience. The Clone Wars has never shied away from showing the darker side of Star Wars and it knows just how to emotionally crush fans. Here we will showcase some of the most heart breaking parts of the show, in a list of the top 5 saddest episodes of The Clone Wars.
Starting with number five, is Episode 10 of Season 4, Carnage of Krell. In truth, the whole Umbaran Arc could make this list, but it’s the fourth episode of this arc that really pulls at the heart strings. Through the entire Umbaran Arc, Captain Rex and the entire 501st are left on Umbara and forced to follow Jedi General Krell. Through the four episodes, Captain Rex was torn between following orders and doing what he thought was right, all while watching his men grow more and more divided. Fans witnessed Captain Rex get broken down with missions doomed to fail, along with the death of clone trooper Hardcase after he, Jesse, and Fives decided to disobey orders. Fives and Jesse were even nearly executed by the very men they fought alongside.
But none of that even compares to what was to come. Krell orders the clones to attack a group of Umbarans who are disguised in clone armor. But not long after the battle, Captain Rex discovers that they weren’t Umbarans at all, but clone troopers of the 212th. This scene was absolutely heartbreaking to watch as the clones lined up to face each other, removing their helmets and realizing what they’ve done. To make things even worse, the battle caused the death of clone trooper Waxer, who had won fan's hearts in earlier seasons of the show.
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Next on the list is Episode 16 of Season 5, The Lawless. This episode follows Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi after he sneaks into Mandalore to try and save Duchess Satine. After Maul takes over the planet and imprisons the Duchess, she is aided by her sister, Bo-Katan, who helps her send a message to the Jedi. Unfortunately, the Jedi are unable to help directly so Obi-Wan goes undercover alone. Obi-Wan tries to escape with Satine but ends up getting captured, learning that this was all part of Maul’s plan to get Obi-Wan Kenobi alone. Maul ruthlessly kills Satine in front of Obi-Wan, who is helpless to do anything. Satine uses her last words to confess her love for Obi-Wan, before dying in his arms.
Moving on to number 3 is the death of ARC Trooper Fives in Episode 4 of Season 6, Orders. In the beginning of Season 6, fans were immediately met with clone trooper Tup experiencing malfunctions to his inhibitor chip, causing him to execute Jedi General Tiplar. Fives is determined to figure out what has happened to his friend and goes with him to Kamino to get to the bottom of it. With the help of a medical droid, AZ, he learns of the inhibitor chips and even manages to remove his own. But the Kaminoans are desperate to keep the truth of the inhibitor chips a secret and sabotage Fives every step of the way.
Fives eventually makes it back to Coruscant, where he is nearly killed by Palpatine himself. He eventually gets away but is now a wanted man. After managing to get a message to General Skywalker and Captain Rex, he meets with them in an old warehouse to try and explain everything that is happening. Unfortunately Fives never gets the chance, as shock troopers interrupt and gun him down when Fives reaches for a blaster. Fives ends up dying in Captain Rex’s arms, surrounded by the clone troopers he was trying to save.
Number 2 on the list is Episode 20 of Season 5, The Wrong Jedi. The writers of The Clone Wars must have wanted to hurt fans in the season finale and that’s just what they did when Padawan Ahsoka Tano decided to leave the Jedi Order. After being framed for a murder she didn’t commit, Ahsoka Tano is on the run to try and find out the truth. While being hunted down by clone troopers and her Master, Anakin Skywalker, she’s forced to seek aid from Asajj Ventress and a fellow Padawan, Barris Offee. She’s eventually captured by the clones and brought to face judgement after being barred from the Jedi Order, with all evidence pointing to her being guilty. If not for Anakin hunting down Ventress to discover it was Barris Offee behind it all, Ahsoka would have been found guilty and potentially sentenced to death. But even after she was found innocent and invited back into the Jedi Order, Ahsoka refused, and chose to leave in a heart breaking scene between her and Anakin as she walked away.
Last, but not least, at number 1 is Episode 12 of Season 7, Victory and Death, the series finale of The Clone Wars. The ending to this amazing series did not disappoint after fans had to wait 6 years for it to debut. Victory and Death left fans feeling more than a little brokenhearted when Order 66 was finally declared. The last four episodes followed Ahsoka Tano trying to capture Maul after he took over Mandalore. With the aid of Bo-Katan and a newly formed group of clone troopers, led by the newly promoted Commander Rex, their mission ends up being successful. After an amazing duel between Ahsoka and Maul, the former Sith Lord is captured. It's not until they are heading back to Coruscant when things take a turn.
Order 66 is declared, and fans watch as Rex falls under its influence and attempts to kill Ahsoka. Luckily, he’s able to tell her to "find Fives" before firing on her and she’s able to get away. After learning of the inhibitor chips, Ahsoka manages to get Rex alone and remove his chip, returning him to normal. Now trapped on a ship filled with clones trying to kill them, Rex and Ahsoka have to find a way off. The entire episode puts a toll on both Rex and Ahsoka as they realize there is little hope in saving the other clones. The last few moments of the episode show Rex and Ahsoka attempting to board a ship as the Star Destroyer they’re currently on is pulled apart as it enters the atmosphere of a nearby moon. No more words are spoken between Rex and Ahsoka as they land safely on the moon before fans are shown a devastating scene of Ahsoka standing over a large graveyard. It’s revealed that Ahsoka and Rex buried their fallen comrades, including fan favorite clone trooper, Jesse. Ahsoka lets her lightsaber fall to the ground in an attempt to fake her death. The last scene of the series is of Darth Vader visiting the crash site sometime later and finding Ahsoka’s lightsaber. The last thing fans see before the final credits roll is Darth Vader walking away in the reflection of on old, broken clone trooper helmet.
That’s our list of the 5 saddest episodes of The Clone Wars TV series. There were plenty more scenes that could have made this list, but these were definitely top 5. Everyone knew there could be no happy endings to The Clone Wars, but it didn’t make the ending any easier to watch. Let us know what you thought of this list and what episode you thought was the saddest!
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Source(s): StarWars.com