u/CriticismSmart7830

The TCW chronological order is a fantastic resource for navigating the complexities of an anthology show, but I think there are a few episodes that weren’t ever fixed and deserve to be moved to a more accurate spot.

First, S1 E6: Downfall of a Droid and S1 E7: Duel of the Droids make so much more sense before the Malevolence arc; they were intended to go there initially, and both Grievous and Ahsoka’s characterization flows better if you watch it that way — as well as cementing Grievous as a threat moving across the Outer Rim before he gets to go crazy with Malevolence — also makes the loss of that more of a crushing defeat. In books like TCW: Wild Space (non-canon, but still worth noting), it’s clear that the first episodes to take place after the movie are these.

I’m not set on this, but I wonder if there is a case to put the Bounty Hunters/Zillo Beast episodes (S2 E17-19) back to their original airing spots (after the S2 Mandalore arc); I couldn’t find any good reason why they’re before the 2nd Battle of Geonosis.

Then there’s the Season 6 Clovis arc — S6 E5-7. To me, this makes so much more sense if you put it in between S5 E5 and E6; Onderon and the Gathering; mainly because Abercrombie is still voicing Palpatine and Satine is mentioned as if she’s still alive. It was originally intended to be placed here as well.

And last — the final four episodes of Season 6, S6 E10: The Lost One and S6 E11-13, the Yoda on Moraband arc. The rationale in my mind is simple — would Yoda, having just found balance in the force, turn around and order Dooku’s assassination? I do think that these episodes also work better even closer to the end of the Clone Wars; thus, I’d advocate for the S6-era timeline to look something like this:

• S6 E1-4: Fives arc
• S6 E8-9: The Disappeared
• Crystal Crisis on Utapau
• Dark Disciple Ch. 1-25
• Darth Maul: Son of Dathomir
• Dark Disciple Ch. 26-42
• S6 E10: The Lost One
• S6 E11-13: Yoda on Moraband

I’m curious what everyone thinks about these changes. As far as I’ve researched, none of the changes actively conflict with anything — no battles or character deaths are mentioned prematurely; that’s kind of the nature of this show as an anthology, but that’s where the question comes in — emotionally, are these changes more satisfying (and without breaking a comprehensible timeline).

So I’ve been doing a canon completionist readthrough for four years atp — I’ve read almost every canon and legends book chronologically up to Return of the Jedi; all I’ll have left soon is The High Republic.

But as I’ve been reading through the canon and preque-era EU, I’ve found the undeniable urge to check out Legends post-ROTJ content. However, I still have a long ways to go until I’m even finished with the canon.

I know for sure that I am definitely reading the OG Thrawn trilogy -- Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, The Last Command — soon. I love Matt Stover, so I’ll also be reading Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor.

Beyond that, a more immediate goal is to reach the Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy, and I’ve heard that one benefits from reading Outbound Flight first. And naturally, that means that I want to read The Hand of Thrawn duology and Survivor’s Quest beforehand; I’m also super open to reading X-Wing, but then I worry that opens an extra can of worms…

A potential long-term goal of mine might be to get to New Jedi Order — but definitely not until I finish The High Republic; thus, it might be a while. Basically, I’m wondering if what I outlined is a good, enjoyable bare minimum to read to get a taste of the post-ROTJ world. As I said—I’d be totally open to coming back later, but I don’t have the time to waste with bad quality books — yet I will definitely read anything that is good. But is it possible to have this minimal post-ROTJ reading list, and is there anything I should ensure I have without it getting too bloated?