Clone Wars: Season Six on Netflix

One of the interesting things about Netflix, is that it has evolved and continues to evolve as time goes on. Their streaming is so intensive that Comcast, and I'm sure others, have gone directly after them. Their use of original media, like House of Cards, has also taken a little twist in that they premiered Clone Wars season six. Imagine a time when say a company like Showtime decides, "This Borgias isn't cutting it" and Netflix steps in and completes the series? That would be awesome.

In terms of the Clone Wars, I've always found Star Wars a mixed bag for a variety of reasons. I really, and I mean really, have to turn my brain off. The powers of the Jedi, as well as just their general perceptions of whats going on, are so poorly done, that in one scene they'll be smashing through dozens of droids and in the next getting stomped by some lone character for 'pacing' and 'story' purposes.

The Clone Wars also doesn't end with closure on all subjects or all maters. Some of the delves are interesting in "Oh, so that's how he learned that" but pointless in that I don't recall people screaming to learn every nook and cranny in the setting.

Overall I think that the Clone Wars is well done. It shows that should they ever choose, they could do a series in the Star Wars setting without Jedi and do it quite well. As a matter of fact, I believe that there is a new series already on the horizons.

For role playing purposes, there are a few things to keep in mind.

1. Consistency: Player's are not writers forced to pull their punches and not act in a consistent manner at all times. Players are not going to suddenly forget that they have access to abilities A, B, and C just because it would be 'cool' if Y happened at that particular time. Know the difference between what your characters have been shown to do when planning traps and hired encounters against them.

2. Closure: Sometimes there may be a player who does a great job with a character but then real life gets in the way and they have to leave. In the Clone Wars, Ahsoka Tano may have come into the series a little annoyingly but she left it on a high point and we have very little closure as to what actually happens to her during say, "Order 66".

3. Villains React: One of the things I've commonly seen blasted about Star Wars, is that the Emperor was just too clever. That he had too many controls in place. If you watch the show, the Emperor is a great villain because he has agents that can react to things as they happen. For example, when it's discovered that "Order 66" may be found out ahead of time? Oh yeah, the Emperor is all over that with multiple agents from different sides covering the issue. If your villains are just sitting around waiting for the characters to show up, they deserve to have their asses kicked. 

4. Unique to Common: Many genres and media share this particular bit. A new enemy appears, like say a Sentinel. At first it's such a vicious foe that it takes multiple times to beat it, or it takes a wide spread group effort that costs tremendous resources. Soon though the characters are taking on five or ten or more of them at a time. We see that with the 'Commando' droids, 'Destroyer' droids and the other leadership style droids that initially seem to be unstoppable and then come up short every time they're encountered after that. Combat changes and when something doesn't work, it will be augmented or changed. How many 'Marks' or generations of Sentinels are we up to now?

While I think Clone Wars could've been better, I think it did a fantastic job of providing a look into the Star Wars setting and look forward to seeing what else they can do.