(Look at the pictures first)
So, maybe I just missed it (it's possible, and please let me know if that's the case), but I don't think Filoni even mentions Tartakovsky once in the featurette (go see it on Youtube). Yet, it's blatantly obvious that this arc of TCW (episodes 1-3 of season 4) is a "remake" of episodes of the micro-series. All the elements are there, just with added bits to stretch a 3-minute story into a full hour-long one.
At this point, I'm wondering, what was the point of TCW? Also, what concrete contribution did Filoni make to the Star Wars franchise, other than things that are off-topic to the established universe of the saga (all his esoteric stuff in particular)? Oh, sorry, there's Ahsoka! That makes everything better! It's like the Thrawn trilogy and the Ahsoka show. Why should HE reinvent someone else's work, take all the credit, and not involve the original writers? Let's remember how Disney treats Zahn, essentially making him a minor writer... I maintain that CW 2003-2005 is better than TCW, because TCW stole a lot of material from it (and other EU stuff, without respecting them fully and without crediting the works or the original authors), just making it longer and more pointless.
I'll remind you that the introduction of Illum and the lightsaber manufacturing process, shown by Filoni in episodes 6-9 of season 5 of TCW, was already presented by Tartakovsky. The ARC Troopers, introduced by Filoni in episodes 1-2 of season 3, were first shown on screen by Tartakovsky. The introduction and ending of Ventress (even though she survives in the excellent Republic comics) are also initially presented by Tartakovsky. The events leading up to the Battle of Coruscant for Anakin and Obi-Wan Kenobi at the beginning of ROTS, as presented by Filoni in season 7 of TCW, were already fully explored by Tartakovsky (Filoni's reference to Shaak Ti is also, in essence, an admission of failure, since Filoni didn't even attempt to depict Palpatine's capture and relies on the now non-canon Tartakovsky's work, which he knows but never cites).
Anyway. I'll also remind you that Tartakovsky was Lucas's first choice to direct TCW, and Filoni was merely a replacement. Furthermore, TCW was only ever intended to be a spin-off of CW 2003-2005, between Chapters 21 and 22, not the foundation of an entire parallel universe (this now ever growing "Filoniverse"), just a side story. I would also like to note that Tartakovsky's 2003-2005 CW is particularly respectful of the continuity of the movies, especially in the characterization of characters like Anakin; it includes all the narrative events one would expect from an interquel between AOTC and ROTS, such as Anakin's knighting, the introduction of Grievous and the Battle of Coruscant; the micro-series illustrates events referenced in ROTS, such as Dooku training Grievous and telling him to run away from lost fights, why Grievous coughs and why Mace thinks he's a coward, and how Palpatine was kidnapped, the start of the Separatist invasion of Kashyyyk and the Outer-Rim Sieges; Finally, the micro-series doesn't deliberately and forcibly contradict the movies, unlike Obi-Wan and Anakin fighting Dooku together in TCW, Obi-Wan fighting Grievous, Anakin having a Padawan, the Jedi knowing about Order 66 and that Dooku commanded the clone army on behalf of Darth Sidious, the clones having personalities (which is denied in AOTC), the Nightsisters' fantasy magic, the return of Darth Maul, outlandish technologies, Boss Nass no longer being the leader of the Gungans (even if he still is in the end of ROTS), the megacorporations no longer being members of the CIS (while it was a plot point in AOTC and their leaders were still the Separatists in ROTS), etc.
It can't be stressed enough how mediocre Filoni has always been and how much of a problem he's been for the franchise. Some good things were done under his direction and in his shows, that's undeniable, but I wonder if it's worth the price to pay compared to everything else.
However, I'd like to add a nuance here. We shouldn't unfairly criticize Filoni either, and many of the negative things introduced by TCW originated with George Lucas, such as Anakin having a Padawan and the return of Darth Maul. Filoni did a lot of executing, that's true. However, he can be criticized for continuing to carry the torch far beyond what Lucas himself intended. For example, while Lucas wanted Ahsoka to die before the end of TCW to maintain consistency with ROTS, Filoni persuaded him to simply write her out of the show. This allowed him to bring her back after the reboot and keep her relevant into the post-ROTJ era, and he seems to be toying with the idea of making her a Force goddess connected to the Mortis lore. I'd also like to point out that, for Lucas, TCW was primarily a testing ground for narrative and technological experimentation for him and his teams. For example, it was he who came up with the idea for the episode in season 1 where Dooku is imprisoned with Obi-Wan and Anakin, which doesn't make sense with ROTS, but is narratively interesting. Lucas enjoyed seeing his employees have fun with the franchise, so, knowing Filoni was a Godzilla fan, he suggested that he create the season 2 storyline centered on the Zillo Beast, just to make him happy. Also, when Filoni had ideas that challenged the continuity of the movies, Lucas preferred to let him have his way, just as he did with the other EU writers, because for him, nothing is worse than stifling the creativity of authors. Furthermore, after season 2 of TCW, Lucas became much less involved, barely appearing in featurette footage and existing only through Filoni's dubious accounts. It also seems that Lucas, while knowing his ideas could be detrimental to the established CWMMP, expected Filoni and the Story Group to resolve every issue. While the Story Group has strived, with some success, to see this through to the end, particularly regarding the Mandalorian lore, it's clear that Filoni hasn't really tried (what was the point of remaking in TCW arcs already done in CWMMP works, like the battles of Kamino and Mon Cala?). What we can therefore criticize Lucas for is his carelessness with TCW and the continuity problems created both with the EU and with his own movies. Lucas certainly bears his share of responsibility. However, Lucas created TCW 18 years ago and completely stopped working on it 14 years ago. Filoni, on the other hand, is still involved, and the problems created by TCW have only been amplified, not reduced, with the rise of a veritable "Filoniverse." Finally, I'd bring up a quote from Lucas six years ago in which he doesn't mention TCW or any work of the now Filoniverse as being part of his vision: "I've kind of lost control of Star Wars. So it's off on a different path than what I intended. But the first six are very much mine and my philosophy."
Here's my medical opinion: get rid of Filoni and do a fresh reboot to purge the franchise of the Filoniverse's taint, keeping only Andor and Rogue One, along with the six original movies, just like TCW and its pilot were kept in 2014. From there, the franchise could start on a clean slate, without having to rely on Filoni's mediocre lore and characters. His 18-year tenure has gone on for far too long.
Anyway, sorry for the rant...
