IS 'STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS' CANON?

'Oy! Starwars... it always has something that surprises one'. The combination of fantasy and tec is really very brilliant. What would our sci-fi universe look like if Star Wars had never happened? I shudder to think where it would go. Impossible to ignore is the epic Skywalker family drama or those cute furry Ewok creatures.

Ah, 'Star Wars'! A truly iconic franchise that has spanned multiple decades, encompassing movies, games, comics, and novels. If we're talking about the original movie, 'Star Wars: A New Hope', it was written back in the 1970s. George Lucas, the genius behind this space opera, began writing it in 1973, and the movie itself was released in 1977. But, of course, 'Star Wars' didn't stop there! A plethora of novels, comics, and fanfictions have been penned expanding the universe since the original trilogy was written. Even today, creative minds are crafting delightful new stories set in the 'Star Wars' universe.

In 'Star Wars', 'The Immortal' is a shadowy figure whispered about in underworld cantinas and Jedi archives alike. Unlike typical Sith or bounty hunters, this entity transcends time, appearing across millennia with no clear origin. Some holocrons suggest they’re a Force experiment gone wrong—a being trapped between life and death, wielding both light and dark side powers. Their motives are cryptic: sometimes aiding rebels, other times toppling empires, as if playing a galactic-scale game. Legends describe their appearance shifting—one moment a weathered scholar, the next a armored warrior. The only constant is their eerie, gold-flecked eyes, which supposedly reflect every life they’ve touched. What makes them fascinating isn’t just immortality, but their role as a mirror to the Force’s will. Are they a guardian, a curse, or something beyond? The ambiguity fuels endless debates among fans.

A rotation in 'Star Wars' usually refers to the time it takes a planet to spin once on its axis. For example, in the movies, you'll hear about different planets having different lengths of rotation which can influence day and night cycles. It's a small detail but adds to the richness of the galaxy, making it feel lived in and diverse.

I've been a 'Star Wars' fan since I was a kid, and 'Star Wars: A Rise to Power' feels like a love letter to the entire franchise. It doesn't just exist in isolation—it weaves threads from the original trilogy, the prequels, and even the newer Disney-era films into something that feels both fresh and deeply familiar. The protagonist's journey mirrors Anakin Skywalker's fall in 'Revenge of the Sith', but with a twist: where Anakin was consumed by fear, this character's rise is fueled by a twisted sense of justice. You can spot echoes of Palpatine's political maneuvering in the way they manipulate systems, and their final confrontation has the same tragic weight as Luke facing Vader in 'Return of the Jedi'. The film even sneaks in nods to 'The Mandalorian', with a blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo from a certain beskar-clad bounty hunter. What really ties it all together is the lore. The Sith artifacts they uncover? Those are straight out of 'The Clone Wars' arc about Moraband. The soundtrack even samples themes from 'Rogue One' during the battle scenes, linking the gritty realism of that film to this one's grand scale. It's not just fan service, though—every callback serves the story. The way it recontextualizes the Rule of Two, for example, adds layers to Darth Bane's philosophy from the old Expanded Universe. Even the new characters feel like they've always belonged; the rebellious pilot could slot right into 'The Force Awakens' without missing a beat. This isn't just another 'Star Wars' story—it's a mosaic made from pieces of everything that came before, and it shines because of that.

In 'Cathar (Star Wars SI)', the protagonist isn’t just another Jedi or Sith—they’re a self-aware outsider rewriting the galaxy’s rules. Unlike canon’s rigid light-dark dichotomy, Cathar bends the Force to their will, blending techniques from both sides without dogma. The story dives into lesser-known species like the Cathar, giving them center stage instead of humans. Key events diverge wildly: Cathar might ally with Hutts or sabotage the Death Star decades early, reshaping galactic politics. The writing feels grittier, focusing on survival and cunning over grand destiny. Canon Star Wars often glosses over the Force’s moral ambiguities, but here, every choice has messy consequences. The protagonist’s meta-knowledge lets them exploit loopholes—imagine using droid programming quirks to win battles or smuggling Jedi artifacts before Order 66. The tone’s darker, with fewer 'chosen one' tropes and more guerrilla warfare. Even familiar characters act unpredictably; Vader might encounter a Cathar who knows his past, forcing confrontations canon avoids. It’s Star Wars unshackled from tradition.

The novel 'Star Wars: An Imperial Officer' isn't part of the official Disney-era canon, but it holds a fascinating place in Star Wars lore. Before Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2012, the Expanded Universe (now called Legends) was a sprawling collection of books, comics, and games that fans treated as gospel. This book fits into that older, now non-canon continuity—rich with stories that once shaped characters like Thrawn or Mara Jade. While it doesn’t align with current canon, Legends material still influences new works. Elements from these stories often get reimagined, like Revan’s hinted return in 'The Mandalorian.' So while 'An Imperial Officer' isn’t officially recognized today, its themes—loyalty, conflict, and the human side of the Empire—echo in newer canon works. For purists, it’s a gem; for new fans, it’s a doorway to deeper lore.

'Star Wars Rebels Unwilling' is a fascinating addition to the Star Wars universe because it explores the untold stories of characters who resist the Rebel Alliance's ideals. While most Star Wars media glorifies the fight against the Empire, this series shows the internal conflicts of those who don’t fully align with either side. The protagonist, a former Imperial officer, struggles with loyalty and morality, offering a fresh perspective on the Galactic Civil War. The show connects to the broader universe through recurring characters like Ahsoka Tano and Darth Vader, whose appearances bridge the gap between 'The Clone Wars' and 'Rebels.' It also introduces new planets and factions that expand the lore, such as the mysterious Bendu, a Force entity that challenges Jedi and Sith ideologies. The series’ timeline fits snugly between 'Revenge of the Sith' and 'A New Hope,' filling in gaps about the Rebellion’s early days. Its blend of familiar faces and original storytelling makes it a must-watch for fans who crave deeper world-building.