so you've convinced me and I *really really really* want to start watching the animated SW stuff. But there's like 7 massive seasons? any suggestions for how to break it down into easily watchable portions, or is there like a good place in the show to jump in at?
I think for The Clone Wars, it is kinda important to watch the movie (tho it is quite lacking in quality beinh the first SW animated content, yet we get our introduction to Ahsoka, Rex, and Ventress here). But what I've done mostly to catch up quickly and understand the first season is to watch clips in Youtube and read wookiepedia to fill on the holes. But this risks you on getting spoilers of things you might not want to know (I bathe in spoilers so I don't have a problem with that lol).
What I think is important for season 1 are episodes:
8-12 (introduces Hondo and features Ventress)
15-22 (includes Virus arc, Ryloth Arc, and the season finale)
Season 2 has more important episodes and it begins to be more plot focused
1-8 (Cad Bane arc and Geonosis arc)
12-22 (Mandalore arc up to the end with Boba Fett's arc)
1-3 (Kamino arc and Toydaria episode, both takes place before episodes of season 1, will elaborate latee)
9-22 (Very vital arcs, lots of force stuff, Tarkin introduction, Nightsisters introduction which will lead to Maul. The finale 21-22 may not be as important plot wise but it is good Ahsoka exposition)
By this season I think the whole season should be watched. It is quite worthwhile and introduces many main pillars of conflict in Season 7
But episodes 11 - 13 (Zygerrian Arc) mostly focuses on Anakin's feelings against the Zygerrian slavers than plot and it won't hurt to skip this arc
Similar to season 5, but episodes 10-13 (droid squad arc) may be skippable, only it introduces a character that will appear in Rebels.
The rest are really important
Seaskn 6 and 7 are less intimidating as they only consist 10+ episodes and therefore is less filler than the previous seasons.
Ohh also I have to note that some episodes are not in chronological order (only like 5 iirc) so if you want to watch the episodes in chronological order you could look up lists in the internet for it. But they would allude to the time period in the opening speech.
For Rebels, each seasons have maximum 20+ episodes and while it may seem filler most of the eps are quite important especially with new characters we don't know. But some of the filler eps are more to bring Original Trilogy guest stars and its not that numerous. But even if an ep feels filler, it'll reveal itself to not be filler when the time is right.
Feel free to ask other opinions too!