Star Wars universe in meaningful and emotionally powerful ways, it's truly an unforgettable cornerstone of the saga.
The best episodes of Star Wars: The Clone Wars make use of this cast of characters to put past moments of the series in a new light, show different sides of old characters, and add to the universe with characters that are as resonant and realistic as those that make up the films. While every episode does good things, these are the best of the best, according to voters on Ranker.
Orders - Season 6, Episode 4
In one of the darkest and most foreboding episodes, "Orders" follows clone trooper Fives after he tries to search for answers regarding the controlling computer chips that clones have in their brains. After seeking an audience with Palpatine, he is framed as a traitor and attempted murderer and must run for his life.
Though he dies in the end, the episode is thrilling and heartbreaking as he does all the things he 'is supposed to do' by pursuing this investigation. He meets up with 501st Legion Kix and Jesse. His dying words are a warning that the conspiracy is bigger than they know, and that he only wanted to follow his orders.
Revenge - Season 4, Episode 22
This episode marks the full return of fan-favorite villain Darth Maul. Though maul was discovered in episodes earlier, he is half-dead and deeply unwell. His brother Savage Opress brings him to Mother Talzin of the Nightsisters, who restores him to full health - minus his original legs. His first act is to murder some villagers and call out Obi-Wan.
This episode is exciting thanks to this return, but there is much more to it than just 'Maul is back.' Asajj Ventress, a former Nightsister and current bounty hunter pursuing Savage and hoping for her own redemption from the dark side. When her and Obi-Wan's paths intersect, they form an uneasy alliance to take down the brothers.
A Distant Echo - Season 7, Episode 2
In this iteration, viewers see Rex, Anakin, and the Bad Batch chase after a distant emergency signal that indicates that MIA soldier Echo is alive. They arrive on a planet of primitive aliens and have to navigate around these people and gain their trust to have allies who can help them find their companion.
The end of the episode revolves around the reveal that Echo has been placed in a stasis pod, implanted with devices and prosthetics, and his brain is being read by machines. Rex and his comrade Tech promise to save Echo from his state, but the haunting end is more terrifying than hopeful.
The Lawless - Season 5, Episode 16
This installment is the culmination of several story arcs and is suitably chaotic, cathartic, and incredibly satisfying as multiple stories and threads come together. The primary plot follows the Mandalorian Duchess Satine after her capture, as her sister Bo-Katan and later Obi-Wan attempt to rescue her - only to be surprised when Maul reveals himself.
The plot of this episode is a great microcosm of the Clone Wars as a whole - the politics of the Jedi council abandoning an 'unuseful' ally, heroes caught unawares and out of luck, and evil sith turning on each other. The result is a story that is a peak among the entire series - though it doesn't work as a standalone.
Shattered - Season 7, Episode 11
"Shattered" takes place near the end of the series as a whole and is a somewhat uneasy episode. It begins with a celebration of sorts - Mandalore is devastated, but the war is ending. Maul is captured. Bo-Katan is the regent of Mandalore. The joy and relief of the fight being over are palpable. But then it all shatters.
This is a pivotal moment in the series, and the Star Wars canon as a whole. This is where the infamous Order 66 begins when Jedi of all ages are declared public enemies and marked for execution. This episode is one of the most dramatic and emotionally devastating thanks to the betrayal and terror Ahsoka and the Jedi go through.
To Catch a Jedi - Season 5, Episode 19
A Jedi Temple is bombed, and Ahsoka flees after the bomber turns up dead - as she is the prime suspect. This episode takes her to Coruscant, where she delves into the dark underbelly of the city to find the real perpetrator. This journey brings her into with Asajj Ventress, the former sith and current bounty hunter.
The enemies-to-sort-of-friends arc that the two women take throughout this episode is half of what makes it so powerful and entertaining. The other half comes from the excellent Solo-esque films and adventures.
Carnage of Krell - Season 4, Episode 10
"Carnage of Krell" is among the darkest and most difficult parts of the series, largely thanks to the moral and ethical struggle that the 501st's Captain Rex is faced with. In the last episode, the 501st goes against their commanding Jedi's orders to mount a forward assault - which would have ended with many deaths.
For their insubordination, Krell demands their execution. Rex is faced with the hard decision of saving his people or holding to his orders - and the decision is even more muddled when Krell is revealed to have his treasonous betrayal in mind. The tensions are high, and the importance of these clone lives is emphasized.
Old Friends Not Forgotten - Season 7, Episode 9
Anakin and Obi-Wan are called away to defend Coruscant while Ahsoka and Bo-Katan want to pursue Darth Maul as he flees to Mandalore. The audience sees Obi-Wan's hesitance, the comradery, and care between the 501st and Ahsoka. While the story ends with Maul springing a trap for Ahsoka, the episode is largely more focused on the characters.
This installment represents the beginning of the end of the Clone Wars series, but it doesn't feel like that at first. This episode ties closely with the start of the Revenge of the Sith movie and gives a new perspective on the film and what Anakin and Obi-Wan expected from their mission. This shows that it was just another day at first.
Victory and Death - Season 7, Episode 12
The final episode of the series is one of the most well-beloved. This is in no small way thanks to the dramatic ending, satisfying character arcs, and the way the story weaves into the larger Star Wars story. This episode encapsulates how a good Star Wars saga is more than just flashy effects and neat aliens - it's emotional and meaningful.
Ahsoka and the Rex fight their way through their one escape, a star destroyer named 'The Tribunal.' During the chaos, Maul also escapes, Ahsoka saves Rex, and they evade death in a cruiser. When Ahsoka buries her clone trooper friends and leaves behind her lightsaber, it's incredibly emotional.
The Phantom Apprentice - Season 7, Episode 10
This episode is considered one of the best of the show because of how it builds on the character of Maul. The bulk of this tale follows Ahsoka as she leads her forces on Mandalore. The episode begins and ends with Ahsoka facing off against Maul, but he escapes both times. His characterization follows not just from his speeches, but also from his actions.
Throughout the episode, Maul is very concerned with the enacting of Order 66. His final words in the episode are "we’re all going to die." He has a very clear concern over the Order and attack on the Jedi, and believes that this means even he, as a sith, is not safe. This installment builds on a fan-favorite Star Wars villain even as it brings the story closer to a close.