For Star Wars enthusiasts, the intricacies of a galaxy far, far away often hold more fascination than the Star Wars saga itself. The how, why, and when of events can be just as captivating as their circumstances or thematic significance. The franchise’s approach to satisfying this curiosity has varied greatly, especially in recent years following the canonical reboot. However, 20 years ago, the beloved 2D Clone Wars series provided a humorous take on this struggle through a simple hand gesture.

The 25th and final chapter of Genndy Tartakovsky’s 2D Clone Wars series was released on March 25, 2005, just months before the premiere of Revenge of the Sith. This culmination of a week-long release of mini episodes bridged the gap between the series and the opening events of the upcoming movie. The final arc primarily depicted the siege of Coruscant, mentioned in the opening crawl of Revenge, where General Grievous, the series’ main villain and one of its most fascinating contributions to Star Wars at the time, brutally carved a path through the city-world to locate and capture Chancellor Palpatine. Chapter 25 concluded with his defeat of the Jedi guarding the Chancellor and his subsequent escape.

The characterization of Grievous in Clone Wars differs significantly from his portrayal in Revenge of the Sith and the later 3D CG Clone Wars animated series. While Revenge‘s Grievous embodies a more traditional sci-fi villain, complete with maniacal laughter and orations, Tartakovsky’s Grievous is akin to a slasher villain: cold, mechanical, and ruthless. He serves as an unstoppable force that grounds the show’s mythical and high-action Jedi, making him a compelling character who can humble them in combat.

A notable distinction between the different iterations of Grievous is his cough. In Revenge of the Sith, Grievous has a pronounced cough, suggesting a severe health issue, whereas Tartakovsky’s Grievous does not exhibit this trait. The Clone Wars series addresses this discrepancy with a straightforward and humorous explanation: Mace Windu crushes Grievous’ entire chest cavity, leading to his cough.

This pivotal moment occurs in the penultimate scene of the series. As Grievous is escorting the captured Palpatine to his ship, Mace intercepts them. Instead of engaging in an epic battle, Mace simply raises his hand, and Grievous’ chest collapses. The scene is comical, with Grievous’ surprised expression and sudden spluttering making for a memorable farewell to the character.

The effectiveness of this scene lies in its playful subversion of fan expectations. Rather than providing a grand, complex reason for Grievous’ cough, the series opts for a straightforward and somewhat humorous explanation. This approach is reminiscent of the modern Star Wars continuity, where the answer to Grievous’ cough is attributed to the limitations of his cybernetic enhancements. Both explanations highlight the idea that not every aspect of a character’s story needs to be deeply significant or tragic.

Star Wars often excels when the answers to its mysteries are relatively mundane. Not every detail of a character’s life is majestic, fated, or important. Fictional characters are meant to evoke emotions, explore themes, and convey symbolism, rather than being a collection of facts. Sometimes, things simply happen because they do, and it is this unpredictability that makes storytelling engaging.

The notion that every event must be part of a divine plan is not always applicable. Occasionally, the explanation for a character’s trait or behavior can be as simple as Mace Windu crushing their chest cavity. This lighthearted approach to storytelling can be refreshing, especially in a franchise like Star Wars, where intricate world-building and complex characters can sometimes overshadow the simplicity of a good story.

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