Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 7 has brought a forgotten prequel villain to the forefront. The conflict between the Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems acted as the backdrop for the more personal narratives set forth in the Star Wars prequel trilogy. Since the clone wars were nothing more than a basic story element, a lot of its finer details didn't get much development. With the advent of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the heroes, villains, and worlds mentioned in name only during the prequels got plenty of progression. Even in Star Wars: The Clone Wars' final season, designed to wrap things up for good and enhance Star Wars - Episode 3 - Revenge of the Sith, the show is giving time to a very minor CIS leader.
In the second episode of season 7, "A Distant Echo," Republic heroes Anakin Skywalker, Captain Rex, and the genetically enhanced Bad Batch are on a rescue mission. Rex is convinced that the Separatists are holding ARC trooper Echo hostage, using his mind in order to strategically defeat Republic troops in battle. As they make their way to the enemy station on Skako Minor, they are taunted by the man responsible, the villainous Wat Tambor of the Techno Union. He utilizes his experimental D-wing battle droids to ensure they will not reach their once-fallen comrade so easily.
Wat Tambor and the Techno Union are not as iconic as names such as Anakin Skywalker or the Republic, but they did play a major part of the many clone wars skirmishes. First appearing in Star Wars: Episode 2 - Attack of the Clones during the Separatist meeting on Geonosis, Tambor pledged his battle droid legions and other wartime provisions to their cause. This was all of the screen time he received until his death in Revenge of the Sith at the hands of Darth Vader on Mustafar. The Clone Wars fleshed out Wat Tambor's character.
Through his and his commerce guild's handful of appearances on the show, their role in the war and the convoluted politics behind it has become far more clear. Not only is the commerce guild one of the largest suppliers of battle droids to the Separatists, but they also provide backing for the war efforts. Tambor is a businessman first and foremost, so he felt that joining their movement was the most profitable choice; although, a good portion of Tambor's products found their way into Republic hands as well. The commerce guild was always in the shadows, leeching off of whoever would pay the most to win the war, which they themselves continually egged on. He and his guild hold loyalty to profit and the warfare that provides it, citing neutrality in the conflict all the way to the bank.
With the last season overlapping with Revenge of the Sith, perhaps fans will get to see his story end once again, this time in animated form. He is quite the forgettable villain, as it is unlikely Wat Tambor is high on anyone's list of favorite Star Wars characters. However, he and the Techno Union's importance to both sides of the war effort cannot be understated. It has been some time since he has gotten to see the front lines, and thankfully he was able to be included without Star Wars: The Clone Wars creating any more plot holes. It gives some much needed context as to who he was and what role he took on during the clone wars.