UNFINISHED BUSINESS. 'STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS' - THE FINAL SEASON ON UK TV

An uncertain future for our Jedi heroes, and the animated saga that is STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS. Images: LUCASFILM ANIMATION.

Sadly cut off in its creative prime-the result of LUCASFILM now under ownership to a scythe swinging Mickey Mouse at DISNEY- and abruptly three seasons short of bringing its full story and evolving character arcs to a close in the build-up to the defining live-action events of EPISODE III: REVENGE OF THE SITH, STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS final twenty episode fifth season (reduced from the normal twenty-two) makes its eventual debut on UK shores via the CARTOON NETWORK, starting in daily weekday strips from Monday 8th April.

Artoo Detoo and co. go out on a bold new adventure.

Lightsaber clashes galore in the season opener, Revival.

With more complex and involving multi-episode length adventures than ever before, this last bow mostly focuses on the popular character created specifically for the animated series, Ahsoka Tano-Padawan Jedi in training to the universe known Anakin Skywalker, as we see her personal arc come to an overall satisfying ending, but with the door far from fully closed. Against her partaking in the rebellion of the popular STAR WARS Expanded Universe realm of Onderon against the evil Separatist threat- its world full of colourful flying dragons capable of giving GAME OF THRONES Daenerys Targaryen's little pups a flying run for their money- there's also growing resentment building towards the Jedi Knights in their forced participation of the long waging conflict, leading to sabotage and murder, of which our plucky heroine is soon caught up in its complications as an investigator. Meanwhile, venerable Obi-Wan Kenobi faces off against the evil Sith renegades Darth Maul and Savage Opress for control of the important neutral world of Mandalore (leading to the first proper appearance of the evil Sith Lord mastermind Darth Sidious, wielding his lightsabers in spectacular style for one exhilarating action set piece), and, for the prime benefit of younger viewers, two lengthy arcs which see diminutive frog alien Yoda and Ahsoka training a group of various species Padawans into a destiny that soon has them partaking in a dangerous mission beyond the safety confines of the Jedi Temple, whilst heroic Astro Droid and all-round favourite of the entire STAR WARS saga, Artoo Detoo, becomes part of an elite cadre going into enemy territory in order to retrieve a vitally needed piece of code encryption technology.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 5 Trailer - YouTube

Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Finale Trailer - IGN Video

Out of the shadows, Darth Sidious emerges. Fight!

Filled to a Gundark's nest with epic battles, old and new characters galore (including the first on-screen appearance of the reptilian space Cosa Nostra- The Black Sun crime cartel), spectacular planetary vistas and fun for all the family, though younger viewers may find things getting a little intense towards the end of the run (especially with the demise of certain characters), THE CLONE WARS ends on a generally strong and successful note, well handled by the series overall animation supervisor Dave Filoni, but its axing-to make way for all-new animated and live-action STAR WARS content, some of it non George Lucas created (starting up in a few years time)- has left a decidedly, and understandably sour and frustrated taste in the mouths of many die-hard fans who have loved this supreme space saga for so long... 

Plans to release the remaining completed but unaired episodes of THE CLONE WARS Season Six will be announced shortly. In the meantime, there is a loyal fan campaign beginning its sterling action in trying to persuade DISNEY to change their mind about the hit series. Check it out here: Save The Clone Wars

Get hold of the complete Seasons One to Four of THE CLONE WARS, here: Star Wars: The Clone Wars - The Complete Seasons 1-4 Blu-ray Region Free: Amazon.co.uk: Film & TV