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Attack Of The Clones Has The Best Ending In Star Wars
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones has the best ending in Star Wars' history, setting out the story of the Clone Wars in mere moments.

Attack Of The Clones Has The Best Ending In Star Wars

Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones has the best ending in Star Wars. When George Lucas returned to Star Wars to create the prequel trilogy, he most likely expected the same kind of response he got with the original trilogy. Unfortunately the initial response was divided to say the least – although it has improved with time, in part as the generation of fans who grew up with the prequels have come of age.

This new generation of viewers acknowledge the prequels’ flaws – particularly Lucas’ dialogue – but are willing to look beyond it, pointing to the complex symbolism and the remarkable symmetry between the prequels and the original trilogy. It helps that Disney has committed to “fixing” the prequels, using tie-ins to add greater depth, to explore subtle nuances and to help audiences understand exactly what Lucas was trying to accomplish. The build-up to the 20th anniversary of Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones has been accompanied by a range of novels set shortly after the film, exploring everything from the wedding of Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala to the complicated Master-Padawan relationship between Anakin and Obi-Wan Kenobi.

It’s now possible to conduct a much fairer appraisal of the prequels, particularly Attack of the Clones. Looking back, it’s clear this film has actually aged well, and its ending in particular has proved especially important in Star Wars. It is, in fact, easily the best ending in Star Wars to date, as evidenced by the nuance in the four ending scenes.

Attack of the Clones’ Ending Reveals The Sith Have Already Won

The first of these closing scenes sees Count Dooku travel to Coruscant, where he meets with Darth Sidious. The vision of Coruscant is a chilling one, with reflected light covering the ecumenopolis in a Sith red; John Williams’ score plays off this, helping everything about the scene feel so very sinister. The smokestacks of Coruscant’s industrial zone look like fires burning, a hint of the galaxy’s fate. And, for all Lucas is heavily criticized for his dialogue, the brief conversation between Dooku and Darth Sidious works perfectly. It’s immediately clear Dooku was actually telling Obi-Wan the truth when he claimed Coruscant and the Senate were already under the control of the Sith; the Republic has already fallen to the dark side, so much so Sidious can welcome Dooku “home.

Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones‘ ending effectively reveals Coruscant has already fallen. The Clone Wars are a trap for the Jedi, simply the means through which the Sith will extend their reign across all the galaxy. When viewers first heard mention of Obi-Wan Kenobi’s heroism during the Clone Wars in the first Star Wars, they assumed they would tell a story of triumph – but this ending recasts them as a tragedy.

Attack of the Clones’ Ending Foreshadows The Fall Of The Jedi

This is followed by a meeting in the chambers of the Jedi Council. It’s telling that only three Jedi Masters are present, representing the diminished status of the Jedi and their dramatic reduction in numbers after the Battle of Geonosis – when even Jedi Masters fell. The three present are Yoda, Mace Windu, and Obi-Wan Kenobi – three whose decisions will shape the galaxy. Obi-Wan’s inclusion in this small circle is an important moment, pointing to the fact Obi-Wan will sit on the Jedi Council by the time of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, even if he lacks Yoda’s wisdom and discernment. It’s interesting to note Mace Windu is the one to ask about Anakin Skywalker; he possesses a rare Force power known as shatterpoint, an ability to sense the greatest weakness in any person or situation, and Anakin’s love for Padmé was the galaxy’s true shatterpoint. Perhaps Mace sensed this was the case, but couldn’t understand what he was feeling.

The shroud of the dark side has fallen,” Master Yoda observes as he looks out at a sky colored the hue of Sith red. “Begun, the Clone War has.” This ominous comment was, in part, explained by Charles Soule’s novel Light of the Jedi; although set during a different era, it revealed a Jedi loses their ability to draw upon the Force when they are surrounded by pain, anguish, and suffering. This is why the Jedi were losing the ability to draw upon the Force, and would continue to do so as the Clone Wars raged across the galaxy. Their vision was becoming impaired by the dark side, and they would not see Palpatine’s inevitable betrayal coming until it was too late.

Attack of the Clones’ Ending Foreshadows Order 66

The end of Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones even foreshadows Order 66. The Jedi believed the clone army to be allies in the Clone Wars, but they are shown operating in that darkening Sith red, and as they prepare for war viewers hear the Imperial March. This gives an Imperial sense to the Star Destroyers launching into the skies, casting them as conquerors subjugating the galaxy – in the name of the Republic. The Jedi remain entirely ignorant of this truth, blinded by the shroud of the dark side, but not all who saw the clone army were fooled; the camera shows a subtle, horrified reaction from Senator Bail Organa, who clearly senses what is coming.

Disney has transformed Bail Organa into one of Star Wars‘ greatest heroes, a senator who challenged Palpatine on countless occasions during the Clone Wars and who went on to become one of the founders of the Rebel Alliance. Bail was the one who understood military force would be needed to oppose the Empire, and he began uniting rebel cells across the galaxy ready for the day they would stand united against the Empire. But, because he was present at the birth of Luke Skywalker and his adopted daughter Leia, he also understood this battle was not simply one fought between two rival military forces; it was a conflict between light and dark, Jedi and Sith, and it had to be postponed until Luke and Leia were of age. It’s so very appropriate that he is there, watching in horror as he looks out at the Clone Army.

Anakin & Padmé’s Marriage Would Doom The Galaxy

The final scene in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones is the marriage of Anakin and Padmé. At first glance there seems to be a strange discontinuity to this, for it feels an optimistic moment; but in truth, this is, as noted, the entire galaxy’s shatterpoint. Attack of the Clones confirmed it is possible to leave the Jedi – Count Dooku himself was one of the Lost Twenty – and yet Anakin has not chosen to do so. Instead, he will live a life of hypocrisy, tied by two competing attachments; to Padmé, and to the Jedi. Anakin’s marriage to Padmé will leave him vulnerable to the manipulation of the Sith, ultimately leading to his transformation into Darth Vader. So this is how the light dies; with a kiss.

Attack of the Clones Set Up More Of Star Wars Than Anything Else

George Lucas played to his strengths with the last four scenes in Attack of the Clones‘ ending. He is no master at dialogue, but thankfully the film’s ending doesn’t involve too many conversations. Instead, the focus lies on stunning imagery, with every aspect of the various scenes working together to sum up the entire Clone Wars in a matter of moments. It’s storytelling at its best, and Lucas is to be respected for pulling it off so well.

The true power of Attack of the Clones is best demonstrated in the sheer number of spinoffs and tie-ins the ending has inspired. There have been countless novels and comics (some no longer canon, some new and vital), and an entire seven-season TV series Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Considering the wealth of content that has been created – not to mention the lasting effect this ending would have on canon as a whole, ultimately leading to the creation of the Empire and the Alliance, Anakin’s fall, and more – it’s quite remarkable to note there has always been a consistent narrative running through them, even in the books and comics published before Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. That is because Attack of the Clones‘ ending was some of the most effective signposting in Star Wars‘ history.