Star Wars: The Clone Wars

This week, I'm pretty sure I just wrote fanfic. "What's the distinction between writing a spec script and a piece of fanfiction?" you might ask. Well, it's hard to define but I know it when I see it. Or, I guess, when I feel it. Writing fanfic feels a little too good. I had too much fun and now I feel guilty about it. Blame it on my love of Star Wars and my Catholic upbringing.

I'm a grown, soon-to-be-30-year-old adult man who loves Star Wars: The Clone Wars and that's fine, Mom and Dad. I love the versatility of this show. They'll pull off dark fantasy epics that arc over three episodes, nail a war story about clones spanning over four episodes, and then surprise you with a Star Wars send-up of Die Hard. This kind of tonal malleability can only exist off the back of a deep universe like Star Wars. And these off-the-wall but loyal adventures could only be thought up by creators who spent their lives loving Star Wars. Dare I say it? Star Wars: The Clone Wars is...

Fanfic.

And that's amazing! Now before you snort and push your glasses up the bridge of your nose, I'm aware that the Clone Wars is canon. And I'm aware that this TV show wasn't the first tangentially connected Star Wars content. There's a whole Legends Universe out there for me to never read. I'm simply pointing out that Star Wars was a movie that became a language, and now there are fan-led TV shows and fan-led movies and fan-led books that are all written in that very language. That's incredible! And the Clone Wars is my favorite of those things.

Whew, barely got out of the weeds on that one. Now, since the Clone Wars is set during the prequels, that makes it a rare case of fanfic that's better than it's source material. (If you disagree, post a comment about it below. I won't engage, but I'm desperate for some action down there.)  In fact, I think Clone Wars made the prequels better. I understand the characters more, the clones are more than just disposable non-people, and the world feels more real to me. When I think of Anakin Skywalker, I think of this instead of this or this. To be fair, we're talking about a six-season TV show compared to three movies but shouldn't I give a shit about the main character after three movies?

But, enough ragging on the prequels. Watch Star Wars: The Clone Wars and then maybe read this dumb spec I wrote in a week. It's a holiday episode that acknowledges the Star Wars Holiday Special as canon. Take that, nerds!

EPISODE SUMMARY:
Anakin pulls Ahsoka off of a reconnaissance mission to help him and Padme aid the wookiees of Kashyyyk in their Life Day celebration. When her commercial space flight is canceled, she must hitch a ride with a hairy new friend.

HONESTY CORNER:
I wrote a silly one, you guys. Unfortunately with this week-long timeline I've set, I have to go with whatever episode idea moves me. This week, I was moved by "Planes, Trains and Automobiles but with Star Wars." I will defend this decision using this precedent: Nomad Droids. In that episode, C-3PO and R2-D2 go on a wacky adventure with homages to Gulliver's Travels and the Wizard of Oz. It's weird, funny, and a total blast. Can I get a pass?

You decide! Let me know in the comments if I ruined your childhood.