Regardless if fans are talking about the movies, shows, or other spinoff media, Star Wars is best remembered for its characters. The franchise as a whole garnered worldwide attention initially for the sheer visual spectacle of it all, but above all else, it is the characters that gave the series longevity. It is in this quality where The Clone Wars succeeds the most as a show.

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At best, Star Wars: The Clone Wars exists to expand the mythos of an ever-growing franchise and - at its most cynical overview - exists to sell toys. But what makes this show essential must-see TV is how the show portrays its characters, both new and old.

10 Ahsoka's Legacy Transcends The Show

Ahsoka speaks to Grogu in The Mandalorian

Most fans will agree that the best thing to ever come out of The Clone Wars is Anakin Skywalker's padawan, Ahsoka Tano. There is a reason why she has since become so littered across different Star Wars spinoff media, including Star Wars Rebels and even in live-action form via Rosario Dawson's performance in The Mandalorian.

Fans instantly grew attached to her amicable, plucky, and spunky character and became enthralled as she grew into a multi-dimensional Force expert hardened by the war.

9 Renewed Interest In Darth Maul

Star Wars Ahsoka Tano Darth Maul Siege of Mandalore

Prior to the Clone Wars, Darth Maul existed solely as a silent, stoic character from The Phantom Menace who looked cool, but beyond that, wasn't much to write home about. In fact, as far as canon was concerned, he was as good as dead. Then, the show made the bold choice of reviving the character and fleshing him out. He even got some dialogue this time!

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His depiction received enough rave reviews to renew interest in the character for fans and filmmakers, even scoring him a canonized live-action cameo in Solo: A Star Wars Story.

8 Opress Was Savage

Savage Opress ready to kill

There is no way that audiences can even think - let alone talk - about Darth Maul's depiction on The Clone Wars without talking about the surprising turn from his brother, Savage Opress.

First and foremost, that name is just as cool as - if not cooler than - the aesthetic of Darth Maul that fans fell in love with back in The Phantom Menace. Second, beyond just being an intimidating foil alongside his brother's quest for vengeance, Opress made for a tantalizing warrior loyal to his brother at a price.

7 Duchess Satine's Story Is Surprisingly Heartbreaking

Duchess Satine dies in Obi-Wan Kenobi's arms in The Clone Wars.

Initially, Ducchess Satine did not look as if she would play such a noteworthy role in the series. Despite her connection to and love affair with Obi-Wan Kenobi, it was not painfully clear that she'd have a more vital role and purpose to the series beyond being his old flame.

While her relationship with him did wind up emotionally charging the story, she also unexpectedly offered a layer of heart to the show that was not previously there, as well as being a moral compass that added to the themes surrounding the show's mostly morally gray characters.

6 Bo-Katan Makes The Universe Feel Whole

Maul Force Chokes Bo-Katan

Bo-Katan is fun to watch on Clone Wars for the same way that Ahsoka Tan is fun to watch. They are both interesting characters with compelling personalities that turned out to be ripe for adapting into follow-up works.

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In Bo-Katan's case, she has most recently found a new audience on Disney+ where she is played on The Mandalorian by Katee Sackoff, the same actor who originally voiced Bo in The Clone Wars. Seeing Bo-Katan pop up in so many different prequels/sequels helps make the universe feel whole and bigger than it actually is.

5 Captain Rex Offers Unexpected Heart

Captain Rex in The Clone Wars Season 7

As far as Clone Commanders go, Captain Rex became an instant fan favorite. In a sea of countless clones, Captain Rex stood out thanks to his dedication to protecting his team and his immense pride in what he does, not to mention the honor that he upholds for his fellow brethren.

He also does the same thing that Ducchess Satine does in bringing a special kind of heart to the show, but in Rex's case, it comes from an unexpected place. Rex surprised a lot of fans coming out of the show. He continues to be fondly remembered and used memorably throughout the franchise, hence his inclusion in The Bad Batch.

4 Asajj Ventress Blurs The Light And Dark

Asajj Ventress from Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Since the very beginning of Clone Wars, even the 2003 hand-drawn animation days that wound up getting retconned from the post-Disney canon, Asajj Ventress had proven to be a thorn in the side of Anakin Skywalker and his friends. However, rather than strictly being the maniacal apprentice to Count Dooku, Asajj became a much more complex character. As the seasons progressed, the aspiring Sith Lord was suddenly displaying admirable, heroic qualities.

Introducing such a complicated villain/anti-hero set the stage for the show's themes that blur the lines between the Light Side and the Dark Side of the Force.

3 The Ones Remind Fans Of The Future

Star Wars Mortis The Father Son Daughter

Technically, this might be cheating because The Father, The Daughter, and The Son are technically three characters, but since they are so closely linked together as The Ones, it just makes sense to give them all one entry.

Although they only appear in a handful of episodes, they play a major role in both setting up future storylines and foreshadowing the inevitable future regarding the sequel series. Most notably, The Son offers Anakin a vision and his first glimpse of his future as Darth Vader. Even with those memories erased soon after, it's a quick reminder to fans for what is to come.

2 Obi-Wan May Be Franchise's Most Beloved Character

Ahsoka and obi wan

The prequel trilogy tends to contain a lot of polarizing characters. The prequel trilogy itself is polarizing, but detractors tend to point directly to the depictions of characters like Anakin Skywalker and Padme as sources of criticism. Obi-Wan Kenobi might be the only character who's not only exempt from such criticism (for the most part), but he's beloved just as much as his original trilogy counterpart.

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People love Obi-Wan Kenobi and The Clone Wars offers audiences even more things to love about him as the show fleshes out his character and puts him into more adventures.

1 The Show Made Anakin Skywalker Likable

Padme and Anakin Reconcile Star Wars Clone Wars

Speaking of polarizing prequel characters, many fans criticized the future Darth Vader as being too whiny and one-noted in that trilogy, but it seems as though the writers behind The Clone Wars went out of their way to correct Anakin Skywalker for their series.

Not only is Anakin written as a much more charming and likable character, but extra detail is dedicated to the inner darkness that The Chosen One is harboring within him. He often gets into a mode where he coldheartedly is quick to kill or do something overtly chilling for the sake of something good, and the reactions from those around him make for some interesting scenes to keep fans glued to their screens.

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