Rating Warriors Arcs (part 1) by Jackdawpaw and Juniperpaw

Jackdawpaw and Juniperpaw rate the first three arcs of Warrior Cats.

SPOILER ALERT! This article contains spoilers for the arcs The Prophecies Begin, The New Prophecy, and Power of Three.
Hello, this is Jackdawpaw and Juniperpaw here with another article where we’re going to rate the first three arcs of Warriors. Let’s begin!

1. The prophecies begin – 7.75/10

Jackdawpaw: 8/10
It might have gained an extra point because it makes me so nostalgic, though. Obviously, it’s the most basic of the arcs and Firestar, as the main protagonist, isn’t very interesting to be honest, even though he is, to me however, likable. But I don’t really mind that the main character is boring as long as what happens around him is interesting, and in my opinion it is. I love the story of Graystripe and Silverstream, and it’s kind of relieving to me that I always knew who to hate. It was quite obvious from the beginning that Tigerclaw would become some kind of main antagonist, and then Scourge came and made the whole story more complex. However, it’s still quite a basic story, with Firestar ending up as the ThunderClan leader and defeating Scourge. And by the way, Tigerstar’s death was kind of a plot twist.

Juniperpaw: 7.5/10
To be honest, I really do agree with this. But just as you said, Jackdawpaw, It is quite basic. About the ending with Tigerstar, I remember that I was horrified “But Firestar’s supposed to kill Tigerstar and it will be a happily ever after! I won’t let it end like this!” So yeah, that indeed makes the storyline a bit “spicier”. There was a lot of minor fights like those over Sunningrocks and I can’t decide if that raised the storyline or pulled it down. I also cannot decide if I like the random big events like the dog pack that was released onto ThunderClan territory, or the fire that killed Yellowfang. I can’t deny that they were really interesting though, especially the dog murder, but they were just a bit.. sudden. Like throwing in events to make the story less dull. (It succeeded but anyway)
Now over to my main opinion. I would have been really really interested in the story (even though the WHOLE series would have been changed) if the Rustclaw AU (alternative universe) was canon. So basically it’s an alternative storyline where Firestar never got accepted into Thunderclan, and instead joined Shadowclan where he began to help Brokenstar and became one of his most valuable warriors. He was also renamed Rustclaw, as you can probably figure out.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the original plot, but it’s a bit basic, like me and Jackdawpaw said. I just think it would have been cool to see a villain Firestar perspective canonically.
Well, that’s all I have to say.

2. The New Prophecy – 8.75/10

Jackdawpaw: 9/10
I love this arc, it was actually my favorite arc until I read Dawn of the Clans. I guess I found it interesting because all the cats were from different Clans, and they actually discovered the world. I liked Brambleclaw a lot more in this arc, too, than later, when he became Clan leader. And back then, I also loved the Crowpool ship, as Crowfeather is my favorite character (though, now I’m not such a big fan of it now as Leafpool broke his heart and returned to ThunderClan after escaping, like why couldn’t you think of that before you made him think you wanted to be with him?). A lot of things happen in this arc, and I think that’s why I like it so much.

Juniperpaw: 8.5/10
Yeah, it’s great. I love how we were introduced to characters from all known Clans too in Midnight, growing fond of everyone and their different traits and personalities. I really like how they learned to work together and combine their abilities throughout the book. I also both like and don’t like how Feathertail died, because although I loved the way it was dramatic that one of the cats chosen to go on the quest was destined to die, I hate it at the same time, since they obviously had to kill off Feathertail, the sweetest and kindest cat in the whole group, who was the only one that could make Crowfeather(paw) soften up. Oh, how I loved FeatherCrow. One of the best ships in the entire series.
As for the other books, I like the kind of unexpected shock that when they came home, tired and grieving for Feathertail, their home was being destroyed and ripped up with its roots, meaning they had to seek a new place to stay, which was a great and interesting event that added some volume to the first four books. The Mudclaw rebellion, though…Personally I think they could’ve waited with that, because now it just goes: They barely got settled, cat is too stupid to plot his revenge and wait, gain allies, learn stuff about his leader, learn which cats won’t follow him; and bam, crushed beneath tree because speedy boi in thunderstorm.
Great. But if they would’ve waited with that, making him plot his revenge and learn all the habits about the opposite side…Boy would that have been great. Well, let’s not dwell more on that. What’s done is done.
So I think there was quite an overload with events, like the Sundrown place quest, The Mudclaw rebellion, Badger attack, The tribe of rushing water, Meeting Purdy, CrowxLeaf running away, Cinderpelt’s death, Brother against brother prophecy, etc. But overall, still a solid, good series.

3. Power of Three –

Jackdawpaw: 7/10
I think this is the arc I was least intrigued in when I read it, and when I think back at it now, I don’t know why. What really stuck to my head is the story of Fallen Leaves, which could almost gain the arc another point just like that. However, I never really loved any of the characters; Jayfeather was too cranky (though now I love him), Lionblaze is pretty boring, and Hollyleaf was a bit… impulsive, and thought too much about the warrior code. I liked them a bit more, though, when I realized they in fact were Crowfeather’s kids (cause as I told you I love him), but it’s still the arc that I remember least from, I think. Though, I still think it’s a good arc and I like it a lot, especially Jaypaw’s travels to The Ancients. What do you think, Juniperpaw?

Juniperpaw:
6/10
Eh, Jackdawpaw, I don’t really like this arc. I really, heavily don’t like Hollyleaf, Sol was… I don’t know, he appeared like twice trying to manipulate Shadowclan and Thunderclan…Blackstar was a straight up old moron who let himself be fooled and manipulated. (I loved Blackstar earlier) Fallen leaves story was TRAGIC. His story probably gives the arc a better appearance to me. It just feels like everything is dull or messy in this arc. The positive thing I can say about this is that I love how it’s a buildup to what’s about to come (Omen of the stars) and how they have realized Hollyleaf isn’t the third cat. And that they are searching for the third cat in the end of the series.
Well, that’s it. I don’t have a lot to say since it’s not a favorite to me.

Jackdawpaw: Yeah, I totally forgot about Sol… hate the guy and love him at the same time. (Mostly I hate him). Anyways, we should probably end this article here, as it is already very long. But we’ll send in a part 2 right away so it shouldn’t be long! Jackdawpaw out!

Juniperpaw: Juniperpaw out!