DVD Tonight: The Force and The Shield

As I mentioned a few days ago, I'm having some housework done that's taken our living-room TV out of the picture. The Tuned In Jrs. have had to make do for their daily fix of shows with DVDs on a seven-inch portable player. It's always the children who suffer most.

One thing that's gotten them through the week has been my review copy of season one of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, which arrives for sale today. And surprisingly to me—having hated the Clone Wars movie—I not only don't hate the series ["I don't hate it!"—TIME magazine], but actually enjoy it.

Make no mistake: Clone Wars on Cartoon Network is strictly a kids' show (as opposed to, say, the original trilogy, which played on kids' and adult levels). But that's probably what works best about it. Unlike the prequel trilogy—which combined the likes of Jar Jar Binks and Lil' Anakin, Podracer, with attempts at dark adult themes—it's just an action show, akin to a short-feature serial from an old-time movie house.

The episodes deal with skirmishes in the title wars, many involving Anakin Skywalker and his girl padawan apprentice, Ahsoka, but (another strength) it draws widely from the supporting characters: Yoda might be the lead in one adventure, Kit Fisto in another. The CGI animation is top-notch for TV, and unlike the animated movie, the stories move along briskly at 20 minutes and change. The kids love it, which is the primary reason it has brought the Peace of the Force to my house, but even if it doesn't touch the original movies, it's a real pleasure to actually enjoy a new Star Wars creation that doesn't involve Legos.

Also dropping today: the complete series set of The Shield, which is, um, not exactly for the kids, but a good gift for TV-loving adults who have not yet seen Vic Mackey embrace the Dark Side.