Sell me on "The Clone Wars" series

[Christopher]

The simplest answer to that is, "Jedi". The longer answer is that the more skilled one gets, not only with using the lightsaber, but also in connecting with the crystal inside of it, the flow of energy gets easier to manage and "lighter" for lack of a better word.

Yeah, I've heard that. But what I was actually wondering was whether wielding two swords at once (particularly two heavy swords) was something that would be practical in real life, as opposed to just being a fantasy action-movie trope that looks cool but would really be clumsy and useless.

 

[Ithekro]

As noted, one blade is smaller than the other. Plus skill, at least in the case of a lightsaber, can make it not as heavy as it would once seem. More akin to a reaper, as this was how Count Dooku used his lightsaber in much of the Clone Wars. Ahsoka uses hers more like a lighter sword and a short sword.

Ventress uses two blade most of the time. They might be full blades, they might be considered duel shotos, as hers are more styled like Dooku's curved hilt. Her's use to be able to be connected into a curved saberstaff, but that was sliced in the film, she never used that feature again.

Anakin uses two blades from time to time. Full blades. He doesn't do it often, but when he can get a second blade, and feels he needs it, he will use it. Mind you, he is the Chosen One, and as the war goes on, he gets physically stronger as well as more powerful in the Force.

Some videos on use of two blade. The first is about real blades and why lightsabers might not be suited for it. The second is visual explanation at how one should be fighting with two lightsabers.

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[Set Harth]

More akin to a reaper

You mean rapier?

 

[Reverend]

Yeah, I've heard that. But what I was actually wondering was whether wielding two swords at once (particularly two heavy swords) was something that would be practical in real life, as opposed to just being a fantasy action-movie trope that looks cool but would really be clumsy and useless.

Yup. It's rare, but it's a thing in a number of different cultures throughout history, though as one might expect it is not for the amateur and will probably get you killed in a melee. I think mostly it's been more of a display of skill in one-on-one duelling. I think there might be a few sword dances that use two blades for what it's worth.

 

[Christopher]

Yup. It's rare, but it's a thing in a number of different cultures throughout history, though as one might expect it is not for the amateur and will probably get you killed in a melee. I think mostly it's been more of a display of skill in one-on-one duelling. I think there might be a few sword dances that use two blades for what it's worth.

Well, naturally I was talking about whether it'd be a good idea as an actual combat technique, rather than a performance technique or a display of skill. That's the whole point, after all -- that what's portrayed in fiction is a performance, something meant to look cool, and that can be quite different from what would actually be a good idea in a life-or-death situation.

 

[Reverend]

Well, naturally I was talking about whether it'd be a good idea as an actual combat technique, rather than a performance technique or a display of skill. That's the whole point, after all -- that what's portrayed in fiction is a performance, something meant to look cool, and that can be quite different from what would actually be a good idea in a life-or-death situation.

Yeah, which is why I gave you a link to Niten Ichi-ryū. It's not a performance technique, it's an actual martial art. As I understand it, It's just not terribly prevalent 1) there are these things call "arrows" against which swords do bugger all and 2) being a whirling bringer of two bladed death is handy if you're surrounded by the enemy and you expect to be dead in the next 10 seconds anyway, it's not terribly practical in the more usual mass infantry formations and in more likely to slice your mate's head off than the enemies, to say nothing of accidentally disembowelling yourself in the crush.

None of which matters to Jedi of course...because they're Jedi. Doing the seemingly impossible with astonishing proficiency is sort of their whole thing from a thematic/mythological standpoint. I mean, these guys deflect fast moving projectiles with glowing sticks. Next to that, using two at once is child's play.

But hey, don't take my word for it. There's a whole world of google search results out there if one is so inclined!

 

[Christopher]

It's not a performance technique, it's an actual martial art.

Those aren't mutually exclusive categories. While martial arts can be used for genuine fighting, a lot of martial-arts techniques are more for sport, performance, exercise, meditation, etc. The tales of Miyamoto Musashi claim he used these methods in duels; even if that's true, a duel is a more controlled situation than a battle.

there are these things call "arrows" against which swords do bugger all

Exactly. The idea that samurai were primarily swordfighters was a romanticized myth invented by later generations of the samurai class after they'd evolved into being mostly bureaucrats. To make their social class look more impressive, they played up the idea of their ancestors as great warriors and masters of the sword, because of the prowess required and the danger involved in swordfighting. In fact, most samurai relied more on bows and arrows because it was safer to attack their foes from a distance. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of those tales about Musashi were romanticized or mythical themselves.

 

[The Wormhole]

it seems like this season's been focusing less on the fighting and more on the politics, which was dull in the films and just as dull here, so this season's been kind of a drag so far. I want to be watching Star Wars, not Star Senatorial Debates, dammit.

IMO, the worse it gets is a season 6 arc involving Padme and the Banking Clan. That story just feels like someone listened to all the complaints about the prequels being about galactic tax crises and governmental procedure and made something specifically to annoy them. It basically is three(?) episodes devoted to bank transactions, and is exactly as exciting as that sounds.

 

[Evil Twin]

WOOKIEE FURY! So anyway, done with season 3. Don't have much else to say about it than I already mentioned. The Nightsisters arc was the best of the season IMO (is Savage Opress the most unsubtle Star Wars name ever?), everything else was average/above average (and "Hunt for Ziro" was just plain bad. Really didn't need to see Ziro's parasite-covered, morbidly obese mother. )

 

[Turtletrekker]

I tend to find the Padme stories to be the weaker stories, for better or worse.

As an aside, I was disappointed to realize that aside from the movie, Anthony Daniels only appeared in 11 episodes as C-3PO. I watched "The Citadel" arc last night, and his appearance was a one scene guest shot, which seemed like a waste as you can never have too much Artoo and Threepio. Are there any arcs or stories that properly utilize Anthony Daniels and the Artoo and Threepio pair?

 

[Turtletrekker]

WOOKIEE FURY! So anyway, done with season 3. Don't have much else to say about it than I already mentioned. The Nightsisters arc was the best of the season IMO (is Savage Opress the most unsubtle Star Wars name ever?), everything else was average/above average (and "Hunt for Ziro" was just plain bad. Really didn't need to see Ziro's parasite-covered, morbidly obese mother. )

Agreed on all counts. Bringing back Ziro was a head-scratching decision to say the least. He was the absolute worst part of the already bad enough movie. I enjoyed the "Assassin" episode as recommended by @Reverend, but didn't go any further in the arc once I realized it would mean more Ziro.

 

[Christopher]

(is Savage Opress the most unsubtle Star Wars name ever?)

The leader of the enemy forces at Christophsis in the Clone Wars movie's first act was named General Whorm Loathsom.

 

[Reverend]

IMO, the worse it gets is a season 6 arc involving Padme and the Banking Clan. That story just feels like someone listened to all the complaints about the prequels being about galactic tax crises and governmental procedure and made something specifically to annoy them. It basically is three(?) episodes devoted to bank transactions, and is exactly as exciting as that sounds.

I think they have their place. I like that the show didn't define itself by mindless action and took the time to explore why wars start in the first place, how much they can cost in financial terms and when all is said and done who *really* benefits from all that death and destruction.

I tend to look on these kinds of episodes as Sidious episodes more than anything. It's where we see just how indirectly he can influence a situation and set it up so that his larger goals benefit no matter the outcome.

Agreed on all counts. Bringing back Ziro was a head-scratching decision to say the least. He was the absolute worst part of the already bad enough movie. I enjoyed the "Assassin" episode as recommended by @Reverend, but didn't go any further in the arc once I realized it would mean more Ziro.

This is just me, but I think 'Hunt for Ziro' is worth it just for the bizarre pairings. Also: how many other kids animated shows can get away with *that* ending? Yikes!

 

[Christopher]

The only storyline I'm planning to skip in my rewatch is that dreadfully boring and unfunny "Secret Weapons" 4-parter from season 5, involving that tiny comic-relief alien colonel leading a team of droids. I'm pretty sure I can skip that one without missing anything important to the series.

 

[Reverend]

The only storyline I'm planning to skip in my rewatch is that dreadfully boring and unfunny "Secret Weapons" 4-parter from season 5, involving that tiny comic-relief alien colonel leading a team of droids. I'm pretty sure I can skip that one without missing anything important to the series.

The Gregor episode is OK and the last one has a pretty spectacular explosion but yeah, other than that the Droids arc is very skippable.

 

[Set Harth]

IMO, the worse it gets is a season 6 arc involving Padme and the Banking Clan. That story just feels like someone listened to all the complaints about the prequels being about galactic tax crises and governmental procedure and made something specifically to annoy them. It basically is three(?) episodes devoted to bank transactions, and is exactly as exciting as that sounds.

But it's also got

Spoiler

the return of Embo, working for Sidious no less!

Also... Anakin does a thing. Without making it obvious that he's done that thing.

As far as the droid arc is concerned, I really like the design of the Void. SW needs more environments like that, instead of the usual endless supply of planets that just look like some place on Earth ( like every planet in TFA, for example ). It's just too bad that it wasn't used for a better arc.

 

[KennyB]

I wish I had finished it all while it was on Netflix UK..........I want to finish it, but not for the price on iTunes man.

 

[The Wormhole]

The Gregor episode is OK and the last one has a pretty spectacular explosion but yeah, other than that the Droids arc is very skippable.

Spoiler: Rebels spoiler

Also, Gregor makes an appearance on Rebels, he's the other Clone living with Rex and Wolfe.

 

[Reverend]

I wish I had finished it all while it was on Netflix UK..........I want to finish it, but not for the price on iTunes man.

Not sure what the iTunes prices are, but I think it's going for something like fifteen quid a season on Amazon. Personally I'm tempted to get the complete series boxset on Bluray for £40. The only reason I'm hesitant is that it doesn't include the "lost" 6th season episodes (nor the movie, but I'm not so bothered about that) and those appear to be going for silly money separately. Probably wiser to wait until they reissue the whole thing as one set.

 

[JD]

The only storyline I'm planning to skip in my rewatch is that dreadfully boring and unfunny "Secret Weapons" 4-parter from season 5, involving that tiny comic-relief alien colonel leading a team of droids. I'm pretty sure I can skip that one without missing anything important to the series.

Ugh, I hated that arc.