THE CLONE WARS: A MURDEROUS MYSTERY CLOSED?

In his expansive office on Coruscant, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine puts an end to the matter of the mystery Clone Soldiers turning on their Jedi Masters, in this superb animation image from The Clone Wars Season Six episode four, Orders, whose story perfectly leads into the live-action realms/continuity of Revenge of the Sith, and its still-shocking Order 66 sequence...

THE CLONE WARS: HOSTAGE CRISIS!

War and chaos have come to the Banking Clan world of Scipio, as former senator Rush Clovis finds his life and career in tatters from the manipulations of Count Dooku, and now desperately holds his former lover Padme Amidala hostage against the newly arrived Anakin Skywalker, in this memorable and dramatic scene from the finale of the Season Six episode: Crisis of the Heart.

THE CLONE WARS: THE FALLEN MIGHTY...

Yet again, another of the Republic's potentially great figures fall afoul of power and ambition, used by the evil Count Dooku to bring even more fragility to the galaxy: senator Rush Clovis, seen here on the brink of political ruin and destroyed credibility. Worse, cowardly threatening Padme Amidala's life in front of a very angry Anakin Skywalker. Wrong move, Clovis, in this scene from The Clone Wars Season Six episode, Crisis at the Heart.

THE CLONE WARS: TYRANUS REVEALED!

The mystery of Sifo Dyas and the creation of the Clone Army via the Kaminoans has now partially been revealed, alongside the identity of the elusive 'Tyranus', as our Jedi heroes Anakin and Obi-Wan face off once more against the nefarious evil of Count Dooku on the Pike Syndicate controlled world of Oba Diah. A classic lightsaber conflict finale scene from the superb The Clone Wars Season Six episode, The Lost One.

THE CLONE WARS: SURVEYING THE SLAUGHTER!

Now arrived on the icy world of the Banking Clan that is Scipio, Count Dooku emerges from his solar sail vehicle to survey the Surprise carnage wrought by his emotionless droid soldiers against a now dead squad of clone troopers. A dark moment from The Clone Wars Season Six episode, Crisis at the Heart.

THE CLONE WARS: TRUSTED COMMUNICATIONS!

As the Banking Clan financial crisis escalates into a potential conflict affecting the Republic, Padme confers with her friend and leader Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, in a scene on Scipio from the three part story of The Clone Wars: The Lost Missions - An Old Friend.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Jar Jar Binks has always been a friendly Gungan, but things get even friendlier in his relationship with Queen Julia of Bardotta, during the hectic events of The Clone Wars Season Six episode, The Disappeared.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY from STAR WARS AFICIONADO!

THE CLONE WARS: THE NIGHTMARE BEGINS!

It's an horrific and unthinkable taster of bleak and murderous things to come, as Clone Trooper Tup suddenly, and at the time inexplicably, turns on his Jedi leader, Tiplar, in the superb and disturbing opening to THE CLONE WARS Season Six episode, The Unknown.

THE CLONE WARS: THE TRUTH REVEALED!

The truth behind the mystery of the late Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas and the creation of the Clone Army, as well as the identity of Tyranus, is finally, shockingly revealed to Anakin and Obi-Wan in a classic scene from THE CLONE WARS: The Lost Missions episode, The Lost One.

The final thirteen episode batch of the series will receive its exclusive UK digital TV premiere on SKY MOVIES this weekend (22nd August), as part of their epic STAR WARS screening season.

OUT THIS MONTH: 'DARK DISCIPLE'

In war, there's an old saying: "The enemy of my enemy is my friend". Just how true that is will soon be discovered by one-of-a-kind Jedi Knight Quinlan Vos when he's paired up with the lone wolf and former Sith Padawan, Asajj Ventress, in a mission to assassinate the dreaded Count Dooku, as the duo's unproduced eight-episode arc for THE CLONE WARS animated series comes to printed realisation via author Christie Golden: Dark Disciple, out next week in UK hardback from CENTURY PUBLISHING.

Here's the cover blurb:

Based on unproduced episodes of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, this new novel features Asajj Ventress, former Sith apprentice turned bounty hunter and one of the great antiheroes in the Star Wars galaxy. 


The only way to bring down the Sith’s most dangerous warrior may be to join forces with the dark side.

In the war for control of the galaxy between the armies of the dark side and the Republic, former Jedi Master turned ruthless Sith Lord Count Dooku has grown ever more brutal in his tactics. Despite the powers of the Jedi and the military prowess of their clone army, the sheer number of fatalities is taking a terrible toll. And when Dooku orders the massacre of a flotilla of helpless refugees, the Jedi Council feels it has no choice but to take drastic action: targeting the man responsible for so many war atrocities, Count Dooku himself.
 
But the ever-elusive Dooku is dangerous prey for even the most skilled hunter. So the Council makes the bold decision to bring both sides of the Force’s power to bear—pairing brash Jedi Knight Quinlan Vos with infamous one-time Sith acolyte Asajj Ventress. Though Jedi distrust for the cunning killer who once served at Dooku’s side still runs deep, Ventress’s hatred for her former master runs deeper. She’s more than willing to lend her copious talents as a bounty hunter—and assassin—to Vos’s quest.
 
Together, Ventress and Vos are the best hope for eliminating Dooku—as long as the emerging feelings between them don’t compromise their mission. But Ventress is determined to have her retribution and at last let go of her dark Sith past. Balancing the complicated emotions she feels for Vos with the fury of her warrior’s spirit, she resolves to claim victory on all fronts—a vow that will be mercilessly tested by her deadly enemy . . . and her own doubt.

Read the first sixty pages here: Dark Disciple%3A Star Wars

Look out for a review on AFICIONADO in the not too distant future.

Get the book here: Star Wars: Dark Disciple: Amazon.co.uk: Katie Lucas, Christie Golden: 9780345511539: Books

THE CLONE WARS: THE HIDDEN ENEMY

On Kamino, Master Shaak Ti confers with alien leader Lama Su on the emerging problem linked to Clone Trooper Tup's unexpected, murderous slaying of a Jedi Knight. Is this a one-off occurence, or a systematic start in the breakdown of the psychological welfare of the Clone Trooper battalions- a situation that could threaten the lives of their war comrades? A scene from THE CLONE WARS: THE LOST MISSIONS episode Conspiracy.

UK fans will finally be able to see this last batch of episodes on SKY from sometime later in the year.

THE CLONE WARS: MEETING THE 'BAD BATCH'!

Cody and his squad encounter the Bad Batch squad. Images: LUCASFILM ANIMATION.

With the prior success of the web released uncompleted story arc reels for the Utapau saga from THE CLONE WARS: The Lost Missions initiative, STARWARS.COM has now released a new four-part set for the Brent Friedman written, Clone Trooper highlighted adventure that is Bad Batch, where a quartet of irregular war-loving, genetically enhanced clones joins forces with Anakin, Rex and Cody to liberate a stolen war algorithm and uncover the mystery of whether the previously MIA clone trooper Echo might still be alive after the fiery conclusion of the Season Three adventures set within The Citadel.

Anakin fights a new type of Battle Droid.

Also featuring the return of notable villains Wat Tambor and the spider-cyborg General Trench, this action-heavy, planet-trotting tale is a must-see, especially for Clone Trooper fans. Let's hope that it gets enough web hits to see-in even more animatic story reels being released for the not too distant future...

Watch the episodes here: The Clone Wars Legacy | StarWars.com

▶ The Untold Clone Wars Panel - Star Wars Celebration Anaheim - YouTube
▶ Bad Batch Star Wars: The Clone Wars Panel - Star Wars Celebration Anaheim - YouTube

'THE CLONE WARS: THE LOST MISSIONS' - COMING TO SKY TV UK

Yoda meets the Force Priestesses, in the upcoming UK screening of THE CLONE WARS: The Lost Missions. Image: LUCASFILM ANIMATION.

Great news for all UK STAR WARS fans, and particularly dedicated UK fans of THE CLONE WARS TV series who have so far not gotten to see the final sixth season- The Lost Missions. SKY MOVIES has purchased the entire back catalogue of movies and TV series, plus the all-new STAR WARS REBELS series, for exclusive screenings later in the year.

Here's the exciting press release:

This summer, Star Wars arrives on Sky Movies, giving Sky Movies customers exclusive broadcast access to all six Star Wars Saga feature films, alongside a wealth of additional features and programming; kicking off with UK TV’s first ever 48 hour Star Wars marathon on May the 4^th.

The collection will see the six feature films - Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Attack of the Clones. Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: A New Hope, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi ­­­-  sit alongside the two animated Star Wars series, Star Wars Rebels and Star Wars: The Clone Wars, as well as a number of Lucasfilm specials and featurettes.

Sky Movies will celebrate with a 48 hour Star Wars marathon on May the 4^th (also known as international Star Wars Day) and 5^th, where customers will be able to watch them in episodic order, as well as release order on both days.

This marks the first time this Star Wars content will be broadcast all in one place. It offers Star Wars fans an unrivalled opportunity to experience the films via Sky Movies’ comprehensive movie service.  Non Sky customers will also be able to enjoy the Star Wars content through Sky Movies NOW TV.

“I am delighted that we can offer the Star Wars saga to our customers,” comments Ian Lewis, Director Sky Movies. “As a huge fan of the saga, it gives me great personal pleasure to be able to offer my fellow fans a unique Star Wars experience. No-one will do Star Wars like Sky Movies.”

Dayna Donaldson, General Manager, Media Distribution, Disney UK and Ireland adds: “The Star Wars saga is universally loved by fans for its rich storytelling and compelling characters and we’re thrilled that Sky Movies customers will be able to enjoy it in the run up to Star Wars: The Force Awakens theatrical release at the end of the year. This will be without doubt this year’s unmissable TV marathon”. "

We are thrilled to be part of this remarkable opportunity which will give customer access to the original Star Wars," said Gina Brogi, Executive Vice President, Worldwide Pay Television and SVOD, Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution. She added, "May the Force be with you."

Alongside the six Star Wars Saga feature films, Sky Movies has licensed both series of Star Wars Rebels and all six series of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, as well as the feature film. In addition, a selection of special programming including Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy and Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed ­will be available.

International STAR WARS SKY MOVIES trailers: ▶ Sky Cinema Star Wars Italy New! Continuity and Ident 2014 - YouTube

▶ Sky Star Wars HD - The Channel [Teaser/HD] - YouTube

THE CLONE WARS: WHAT WOULD ANAKIN SAY?!

Back during World War II, the American flying pilot heroes had sex siren Betty Grable as their icon painted on their planes as they went into life or death battles. And in the universe of the Clone Wars, one group of irregular helmeted Republic heroes have their deserved new pin-up in that equally sexy champion of justice: Padme Amidala. Let's just hope Anakin doesn't see it! Oh, too late!

A piece of previously unseen concept art for the sadly never fully competed "Batch Batch" story arc from THE CLONE WARS, revealed by Dave Filoni at a special panel and screening at CELEBRATION ANAHEIM 2015.

Check out the cool liveblog trasnscript and superb conceptual art for those episodes that were not to be - featuring Wookiees and Tusken Raiders no less! - here: SWCA: The Untold Clone Wars Panel Liveblog | StarWars.com

THE CLONE WARS: A MESSAGE FROM UK FANS TO LUCASFILM...

Yoda senses disturbing times for frustrated UK fans of THE CLONE WARS. Image: LUCASFILM ANIMATION.

One year on from its original debut on the US NETFLIX service, STAR WARS AFICIONADO would like to re-remind LUCASFILM and DISNEY, beyond its American territories, that the UK's devoted fanbase are still officially waiting to see these these LOST MISSIONS episodes somewhere beyond the rip-off import prices for its Region Zero American/German releases. This last season of THE CLONE WARS deserves proper availability in the UK market- if not on Blu-ray/DVD then at least via this territory's version of NETFLIX. Why the delay?

THE CLONE WARS: A MESSAGE FROM UK FANS TO LUCASFILM...

Don't look glum, CLONE WARS cast- we'll see you soon in the UK. We hope...

We'd like to remind whoever's at LUCASFILM handling the digital transmission release of THE CLONE WARS: THE LOST MISSIONS beyond American territories, that the UK, and its equally devoted fanbase, are still officially waiting to see these episodes somewhere, somehow...

THE CLONE WARS: RETURN OF THE SON OF DATHOMIR!

Last seen being electrified by the overwhelming powers of his former master, Darth Sidious, the resurrected Darth Maul disappointingly failed to have an onscreen conclusion to his arc in THE CLONE WARS animated series, though a story involving rescue by the Mandalorians, but ultimately a pawn of the Sith to eradicate Mother Talzin of Dathomir, was in the stages of production before the axe fell. That epic script- Son of Dathomir- has thankfully now been adapted into a new four-issue comic series from DARK HORSE, so far receiving some very positive critical notices.

Here's hoping more unmade TCW stories (like the planned Wookiee arc, the return of Ahsoka and the Cad Bane/Boba Fett team-up, as seen here: To Fans of Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Thank You | Star Wars Blog | Star Wars Blog) get to novel or comic book form in the not too distant future...

Look for a review of the complete Son of Dathomir series on AFICIONADO in the not too distant future.

CLASSIC IMAGE: BEFORE BATTLE COMMENCES...

On Kashyyyk, jungle home of the formidable wookiees, its warrior leader Tarfful, alongside his sort-of lieutenant, Chewbacca (whose true working designation prior to meeting Han Solo has never really been pinned down- a technical assistant of some kind), get ready for battle against the Separatists, whilst Master Yoda, friend to the species, finishes an equally important conversation with his Jedi Temple colleagues on Coruscant. A scene of impeding action from EPISODE III.

After only seeing glimpses of it in comics or as a Ralph McQuarrie painting in 1978, and the briefest of moments in the second CLONE WARS micro-series, it was finally great to visually behold the Wookiee world by the time of this final Prequel film. Chewbacca's later presence in the animated THE CLONE WARS series, set before EPISODE III, was also much welcome, though its a major disappointment that a further major Wookiee/Kashyyyk plot leading into the epic Separatist battle was lost when the series was terminated by DISNEY all too early: To Fans of Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Thank You | Star Wars Blog | Star Wars Blog

THE BRAVEST OF JOURNEY'S CONCLUDES. 'THE CLONE WARS: THE LOST MISSIONS' ARRIVE ON US NETFLIX

A whole host of intergalactic goodies await lucky US viewers, as they finally get to see the completed episodes of THE CLONE WARS Season Six- or The Lost Missions, as its now been called, from this month.

▶ Star Wars: The Clone Wars -- The Lost Missions: Trailer - YouTube
Star Wars: The Clone Wars - The Lost Missions Now on Netflix | StarWars.com

Featuring the much-anticipated vocal return of Liam Neeson as the ethereal Force ghost of Qui-Gon Jinn, an ice planet-set story arc involving Season Two's previously seen senator Rush Clovis, a deadly trip undertaken by Yoda into the heart of the Sith genesis, a look back to the mysteriously elusive Jedi Sifo-Dyas, and, most importantly, a grim foreshadowing of the events of ORDER 66- and even the murky swamp vistas of Dagobah thrown in for good measure, there's something for everyone in this surely stunning conclusion to five previous years of epic and thoroughly absorbing storytelling. Thank you and goodbye to our Prequel era heroes and villains, and a big thank you to Dave Filoni and his team for such a stunning job in bringing STAR WARS to new heights of animated brilliance.

I've said it before, but STAR WARS: REBELS has a helluva lot to live up to after this....

Mystery and danger ahead for Shaak Ti.

THEIR FINAL BOW. 'STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS' FAVOURITES RETURN FOR 'THE LOST MISSIONS'

TheForce.net: In New Interviews, Dave Filoni Discusses The Clone Wars Bonus Content

‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars’: Dave Filoni on Ahsoka’s fate, Master Yoda | Hero Complex – movies, comics, pop culture – Los Angeles Times

Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Episodes, Videos and Games | StarWars.com

'Clone Wars' director Q&A: Final episodes answer big 'Star Wars' questions | Inside TV | EW.com

Samples of composer Kevin Kilner's work for the series: MUSIC • KEVIN KINER

The Top 10 Star Wars: The Clone Wars Episodes - IGN

THE CLONE WARS: ARACHNOPHOBIA!

The scheming and observant Separatist tactician Commander Trench, a member of the spidery alien race known as the Harch, may have been beaten by youthful Anakin Skywalker's abilities above Christophosis first time out, but he survives for a rematch in an upcoming ORDER 66 related story arc, coming soon to The Lost Missions of THE CLONE WARS.