15 Star Wars Retcons That Make The Prequel Trilogy So Much Better (And So Much More Tragic)

The Star Wars Prequel trilogy ended in 2005, yet several stories since then have added plot points, characters, moments and context to make the three George Lucas films even better and infinitely more tragic. The reception of the Star Wars Prequels have changed drastically in recent years. Which was classified as three of the worst-ranked Star Wars Movies are now held in higher regard, driven primarily by the divisive reaction to Disney’s efforts in the franchise.

However, the films themselves have not changed. Instead, this is the reaction to the movies in the franchise under Disney’s tenure – which will likely continue to be divided with the coming Star Wars Movies – This enhanced the reputation of the prequel trilogy. That said, there is the ever-increasing number of Star Wars Stories crafted in the prequel era, and the recons they provided, added heaps of context to the three Lucas-made films. The recons primarily came from the many Star Wars TV shows and succeeded in making the prequel trilogy much more heartbreaking and even better in retrospect.

15

The Mortis Arc

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 3

One of the more intriguing arcs of Star Wars: The Clone Wars Timeline was the exploration of the Mortis Gods. In this arc, Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano and Obi-Wan Kenobi somehow find themselves lost in space on a mysterious planet. This planet gives them visions, premonitions and even the ability to speak with beings through the force. Eventually, it is revealed to be a conduit through which all the force in the universe flows, run by Force deities known as the Mortis Gods.

The Mortis Gods are called the Father (Libra), the Daughter (Light), and the Son (Darkness). in the clone wars, They serve as a personification of Anakin’s journey to become the chosen one of the Force as he grapples with light, darkness and balance. Anakin is shown visions of his future and the terrible things he will do before his memory is wiped. In the way it summarizes Anakin’s struggles with light and dark and teases his dark deeds as Vader, The Mortis Arc recontextualizes Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith In an epic, mysterious, tragic way.

14

The Umbara Arc

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 4

Another arc that makes the prequel trilogy equally better and more tragic is The Clone Wars Umbara arc. The arc centered around the Battle of Umbara in which the 501st Clone Battalion operates under General Krell when Anakin Skywalker is called off the planet. The clones eventually discover a dark conspiracy surrounding Krell and his dislike for clones, which provides the biggest insight into the clones being living-breeding humans more than any other arc in the show. In establishing the clones as lovable characters, their betrayal of the Jedi during Order 66 is made much more impressive.

13

Obi-Wan’s Undercover Arc

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 4

Anakin Skywalker’s turn against the Jedi seemed too sudden when the prequels were released, but The Clone Wars Undercover arc adds much more context. In the latter, Obi-Wan Kenobi fakes his death without Anakin being told to make it seem real, thus allowing Kenobi to infiltrate a criminal organization and uncover one of Count Dooku’s plans during the war. When Anakin tries to avenge Kenobi’s “death,” his dark tendencies are highlighted Much more. This alone makes the prequels better by foreshadowing, but it is the Council’s deception that adds context to Anakin’s eventual betrayal and distrust.

12

Maul’s Murder of Satin Crisis

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 5

Obi-Wan Kenobi vs. Darth Maul has long been held in high regard as one of Star Wars Best ever action scenes due to his choreography, though Maul’s characterization when Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace was released and criticized. Since then, however, Retellings of Maul’s journey made his inclusion in the prequel era that much better. Maul was revealed as living in The Clone Warswhere he was shown to be consumed by revenge against Kenobi, culminating in the villain taking over Mandalore and holding Kenobi’s friend – and former lover – Satine Kryze captive.

From the development to the various clashes between Maul and Kenobi that surround it, their rivalry is massively enhanced. Not only does this benefit The Phantom Menace On rewatch, as audiences now know what is to come between the two, but it improves Kenobi’s character as a whole. The most shocking moment of their rivalry in The Clone Wars When Maul kills Satine, someone Kenobi admits that he would have left the Jedi Order for if she had asked. Because this happens, Kenobi’s prequel film appearances are made more tragic by the undercurrent of loss, grief, and heartbreak.

11

Ahsoka leaves the Jedi Order

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 5

The primary reason behind Anakin’s fall to the dark side is his drive to save the lives of those he loves, something made even more sympathetic, reasonable, tragic and believable due to Ahsoka’s timeline in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Ahsoka Tano was introduced as Anakin’s Padawan in the show and their relationship quickly became a fan favorite. However, it ended somewhat sadly when Ahsoka was framed for a bombing of the Jedi Temple, which eventually ended in her leaving the order as it shook her faith in their methods.

After Ahsoka leaves the Jedi, Anakin becomes somewhat lost for a while. His distrust of the Jedi Order only increases as a result of their treatment of Ahsoka, and he begins to blame himself for what he might have done to help his Padawan. This adds an invaluable level of context to his drive to protect Padmé in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the SithOne of the few true relationships he has left. As such, Anakin’s turn to the dark side in the name of protecting those he loves is made so much better and unendingly more upsetting.

10

Fives Order 66 Arc

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 6

This arc centers around Clone Trooper Fives, one of The Clone Wars Domino Squadron, investigating the killing of a Jedi by a fellow clone. Over four episodes, Fives begins to uncover the Order 66 conspiracy himself, but finds himself on the run of Chancellor Palpatine, who is trying to silence the clone.. Through this arc, the impacts of order 66 in Revenge of the Sith are made infinitely more harrowing for a number of reasons.

Star Wars Order 66 was always sad as the Jedi were killed, however The Clone Wars Various recons to make audiences care about the clones means audiences care about both sides on Rewatch. More than that, Fives’ arc showcases that Order 66 was against the clones’ will, and reveals the heartbreaking fact that the Jedi came so close to uncovering the conspiracy before Fives was tragically killed.

9

Yoda sensing Palpatine’s darkness

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 6

Throughout the prequel era, Yoda senses Palpatine’s darkness many times. in The Clone Wars In season 6, Yoda is shown a vision by the Force on the Sith planet of Moraband. There, he battles the appearance of Darth Sidious without realizing he is Chancellor Palpatine. With Yoda coming so close to discovering one of the most powerful Sith Lords in Star WarsThe eventual rise of Palpatine in the prequels is made much more frustrating but thus, a better story.

8

The Siege of Mandalore Ark

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 7

The Siege of Mandalore arc runs concurrently with Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith And the second installment culminates with Maul offering Ahsoka the chance to stop Sidious and prevent Anakin’s fall. Ahsoka doesn’t believe that Maul and the two come to blows, making Anakin’s fall to the dark side as much sad as it was almost prevented. so too, Rewatching Order 66 is made even better as the Siege of Mandalore arc brings to mind what’s happening to the characters the audience cares about – like Ahsoka, Rex and the 501 – across the galaxy.

7

Mail-order 66 clone life

Star Wars: The Bad Batch and Obi-Wan Kenobi

Few of the clones are shown in the chronological order of Star Wars After the release of the prequels. However, recommendations found in Star Wars: The Bad Batch And Obi-Wan Kenobi Make their lives much more sad. in the first, It’s explored how the clones were discarded by the Empire without much thought, as well as how some clones dealt with the immense guilt of betraying the Jedi during Order 66. This, combined with the image of a homeless clone veteran in Obi-Wan Kenobi, Makes the story of the clones in the prequel movies that much more miserable, knowing how most of their stories ended.

6

Anakin’s relationship with Jedi younglings

Game Star Wars Brotherhood

The book Game Star Wars Brotherhood is set near the beginning of the Clone Wars. In the book, Anakin is shown to mentor several young people during his time as a Jedi Knight. This makes sense given Anakin’s power in the Jedi Order and his role in later training Ahsoka, but makes one element of the prequels, Anakin’s darkest crime in Revenge of the Sith, More heartbreaking.

The crime in question is Anakin’s slaughter of the Jedi younglings. The added knowledge that Anakin may have known some of the young men and that they, in turn, respected and trusted him, makes their murders even more harrowing. If Anakin and the younglings were total strangers to each other,​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ had had the horrifying act be lessened ever so slightly. That being said, Anakin’s first connection to some of them is infinitely worse than his dark deeds.

5

Obi-Wan knew of Anakin & Padmé’s relationship

Star Wars Brotherhood and Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 7

Obi-Wan is already an immensely sympathetic character, but the fact that he knew about Anakin and Padmé’s relationship since their wedding makes investing in him in the prequels even easier. This fact was reconnected after the prequel trilogy, in which it is only hinted that he knew of their connection. in brotherhoodIt was revealed that Obi-Wan saw Anakin and Padme together shortly after their wedding.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 7 also has a scene where Anakin is trying to hide a call with Padmé, but Obi-Wan sees right through it. Obi-Wan just wanted his brother to have a peaceful, happy life, making him a better, more complex character in the prequels by looking the other way. At the same time, the fact is more sad because he could have prevented Anakin’s fall if he helped the latter through his complex relationship.

4

Dooku & Yaddle’s fate

Tales of the Jedi

One of the more mysterious, frustrating, unexplained aspects of the prequel trilogy is what happened to Yaddle between Star Wars: Episode I – THe Phantom Menace And Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the clones. The Jedi of Yoda’s species simply disappeared, leaving many wondering why. In 2022, a Star Wars retcon made this mystery so much more satisfying and harrowing thanks to Tales of the Jedi.

The revelation that Yeddel discovered Doku’s fall to the dark side and was subsequently killed by him after trying to convince him to come back to the light makes her leave. Episode II Impossible more tragic. With Dooku also present in the second prequel film, it’s easier for audiences to root against him with the Recon in mind. moreover, Tales of the Jedi Benefited the prequels in the same way The Clone Wars Was done by Anakin by investigating Dooku’s distrust of the Jedi.

3

Twin sons

Star Wars Rebels

It was not only Star Wars: The Clone Wars That improved Obi-Wan and Maul’s rivalry from the prequels, however Star Wars Rebels too. In the latter, the two have a final, fatal confrontation in the deserts of Tatooine as Obi-Wan kills Maul once and for all. In the same way that the duel of the fates is made better by knowing what happens between Obi-Wan and Maul after their confrontation, it is also improved thanks to the knowledge of how their story ends.

2

Obi-Wan vs. Vader

Obi-Wan Kenobi

The final battle between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader in Obi-Wan Kenobi Dramatically improves upon the prequels. The relationship between the two characters was one of the strongest aspects of the prequels anyway, but the depth added to it by their fight is incredible. Don’t just do Obi-Wan Kenobi And Revenge of the Sith Mutually benefit each other as a result, but the added depth of transitioning Kenobi and Vader’s relationship between the prequels and the originals is another reason Recon works so well.

1

Star Wars’ other order 66 survivors

Finally, the latest series of recons that makes the Star Wars Prequel trilogy even better links back to order 66. In several stories since Revenge of the SithMany more survivors of Order 66 in Star Wars were revealed. From the likes of Cal Kestis, Grogu, Kelleran Beq, Ahsoka and Kanan Jarrus to name just a small handful, the list of Order 66 survivors is growing.

Although some argue that this is detrimental to the severity of Order 66, the argument falls apart when realizing only 50 or so out of 10,000 Jedi survived the event. With the knowledge of the other survivors, the order 66 scene in Revenge of the Sith is made equally better and tragic. Not only the scene is in Star Wars Bring to mind the other harrowing events that Jedi across the galaxy are undertaken, but it is made better due to the hope that the other survivors instill for a better future. After all, hope has long been in the center of Star Wars.