Hailed as one of the best additions to the Star Wars franchise in recent years, The Clone Wars has continued to receive praise from fans who believe it captures the essence of George Lucas's original trilogy and prequel trilogy. Beginning in 2008 and produced by Lucasfilm, it filled the gap between Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, but was canceled before it could conclude its storylines leading up to Order 66.
Its triumphant Season 7, which continues under the watchful eye of Disney and picks up where Season 6 left off, has been teased in a trailer that reveals glimpses of what fans can come to expect in the final season, which premiers February 21st, only on Disney+. From the duel between Darth Maul and Ahsoka Tano to Anakin's further fall to the dark side, here's everything we've learned so far.
IT WILL SHOW A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE OF THE EMPIRE'S RISE
During a scene in which members of the Jedi Council meet, which is reminiscent of a similar key scene in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, Mace Windu is seen as a hologram delivering the same lines he states as a corporeal person in the film. This indicates another perspective of the Empire's rise.
Fans have wondered if it will be Jedi Master Ki-Adi-Mundi or Aayla Secura, contextualizing the Jedi Order's suspicions of Order 66, or at the very least the knowledge that Palpatine is the Sith Lord behind the plot to destroy the Jedi from within.
THERE WILL BE SOME EPIC SPACE BATTLES
Since the final season of The Clone Wars guides the plot right into Order 66, at the height of the Clone Wars, viewers know they're guaranteed to see some epic space battles. The trailer didn't fail to deliver, revealing several that look on par with the prequel films.
Not only will there be space battles, but the Siege of Mandalore looks to include ground assaults that will finally explore events only indicated in series like The Mandalorian when Moff Gideon went into gruesome detail about "The Night of a Thousand Tears".
DARTH MAUL KNOWS PALPATINE'S PLAN
As we hear in a chilling voice-over narration, Darth Maul seems to be aware of Palpatine's plans. In what should have been included in episodes of The Clone Wars before it was canceled, Darth Maul was captured by Palpatine but escaped back to Mandalore, his last stronghold (told independently in the Son of Dathomir comic series).
Maul speaks abstractly, but it seems he knows of Palpatine's machinations wiping out the Jedi with Order 66. He also learns a great deal from pulling information from a clone trooper named Jesse with a mind-probe technique similar to the one Kylo Ren used on Rey in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
AHSOKA TANO IS INVOLVED WITH THE SIEGE OF MANDALORE
In the events leading up to Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker were supposed to lead the attack on Mandalore, but when Chancellor Palpatine was kidnapped by Count Dooku, they had to regroup.
Ahsoka now appears to be leading the siege, aided by Bo-Katan Kryze, a member of the Death Watch and now apparently a begrudging ally against Darth Maul. The Siege of Mandalore has thus far only been mentioned in various media including Star Wars Rebels and The Mandalorian.
AHSOKA TANO HAS AN EPIC SHOWDOWN
Two fan-favorite characters thought dead are returning for Season 7; Anakin Skywalker's former apprentice Ahsoka Tano, and Darth Sidious's former apprentice, Darth Maul. It looks to be the battle of the pupils, as both have finally mastered the light side and dark side, respectively.
The showdown looks to take place around the same as Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, and may be where the famous Jedi warrior meets her demise. After all, she was among the voices of the Jedi guiding Rey in the final fight between Emperor Palpatine in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
DARTH MAUL AND AHSOKA TANO WON'T KILL EACH OTHER
Knowing the timeline of both the characters of Darth Maul and Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars Rebels, viewers shouldn't be surprised that when they face off in what promises to be an exciting lightsaber duel worth of the Skywalker saga, neither will meet their demise.
Maul is killed in the Star Wars Rebels episode "Twin Suns" by an elder Obi-Wan Kenobi on Tatooine 2 years prior to the Battle of Yavin in Star Wars. Ahsoka Tano goes off in search of Ezra Bridger at the end of that same series, a full five years after the events of Star Wars, so their duel will be anything but mortally climactic.
AHSOKA AND THE CLONES
Ahsoka may have had her doubts as a Jedi, but as a leader and friend to the clone troopers, she never needs to doubt their devotion to her. In the trailer, scenes of Rex and his men include their armor painted to reflected Ahsoka Tano's markings, indicating the clones' great respect for her.
She repays their admiration and commitment by refusing to leave their sides, even when they lay wounded on the battlefield. It's particularly poignant when you consider after Palpatine gives the command for Order 66 to be initiated, many of her the same clone troopers will turn on her.
CLONE TROOPER PERSPECTIVE
We hear from Captain Rex himself, one of the most well respected (and recognizable) of the clone troopers, how the clone troopers have "mixed feelings" about the war they were made for. They understand that without the conflict between the Republic and the Separatists they wouldn't exist, but it doesn't mean they relish the context of their creation.
Before they were relegated to Star Wars Legends, the old Expanded Universe novels went into a great deal of detail regarding the clone troopers' opinions of the Clone Wars. It looks like The Clone Wars will end with their definitive thoughts being made at least partially canon.
ANAKIN MOVES CLOSER TO THE DARK SIDE
Viewers will note that Anakin Skywalker wears the darker attire that he preferred in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, indicating his slow march towards the dark side. Season 7 also shows Anakin appearing very much in the grip of its thrall as well in a showdown with Admiral Trench.
The admiral was a key Separatist strategist in several other episodes of The Clone Wars, and it's been long surmised by fans that Anakin would be the one to kill the Harch commander. Anakin is seen in the trailer drawing his lightsaber and mowing down Harch sentinels, with the same feral look on his face during his attack of the Separatists on Mustafar.
ANAKIN AND PADME WILL HAVE MORE SCENES
There was an unfortunate lack of scenes between Anakin and his wife Padme in the third prequel film, leaving their tumultuous reunion at the end somewhat disjointed. Luckily, it looks like The Clone Wars Season 7 may repair some of that awkward tension.
Though it's shown only between Anakin and a hologram Padme, a scene in the trailer shows them sharing a tender exchange, which at least reinforces their feelings for one another, and demonstrates what Anakin cherishes so highly he'd be willing to risk his own salvation to protect.