- "Star Wars" has come a long way since George Lucas' original trilogy of movies.
- Aside from the prequels and sequels, there are a number of TV shows set in a galaxy far, far away.
- Here is every "Star Wars" TV show ranked from worst to best.
11. "Star Wars Resistance" (2018)
There are a plethora of animated "Star Wars" shows to watch on Disney+ — and the one that has the least to say is "Star Wars Resistance," which is set in the sequel era of the franchise.
It follows Kazuda Xiono (Christopher Sean), who has to investigate the villainous First Order while also racing speeders around a giant ship called the Colossus on the planet Castilon.
It does nestle itself neatly next to the likes of "The Force Awakens," "The Last Jedi," and "The Rise of Skywalker," but it doesn't add anything major to the franchise.
Unfortunately, the animation style of "Star Wars Resistance" isn't exactly top-notch either, as the over-the-top colors and brightness make it all too chaotic for its own good.
The vocal work from the cast is great, but it's a shame the main story is underwhelming.
10. "The Book of Boba Fett" (2021)
While "The Mandalorian" gripped audiences around the world, "The Book of Boba Fett" quickly descended into mediocrity.
This was hugely disappointing because the bounty hunter's return to the franchise was one of the most crowd-pleasing moments in "The Mandalorian" season two.
Temuera Morrison returns to play Boba after playing his (clone) father, Jango Fett, in 2002's "Attack of the Clones." But while fans expected to see a ruthless Boba taking on the criminal underbelly of the galaxy far, far away, he is instead a crime boss. The writing behind Boba's actions doesn't fit the character's personality at all.
The show does have some highlights, like Boba's partnership with the incomparable Fennec Shand (Ming-Na Wen), and his fascinating dynamic with the infamous Tusken Raiders on Tatooine.
Unfortunately, the two best episodes of the show actually revolve around Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and Grogu, in what is essentially "The Mandalorian" season two-and-a-half.
The finale does deliver a big spectacle, but not even a brawling Rancor can save "The Book of Boba Fett" from landing so low on our ranking.
9. "Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi" (2022)
"Tales of the Jedi" is the companion piece to the animated series "The Clone Wars" and "The Bad Batch," and explores the backstory of several key Jedi knights, including Ahsoka Tano (Ashley Eckstein), Count Dooku (Corey Burton), and Qui-Gon Jinn (Micheál Richardson).
While they're all interesting episodes that offer more context about why certain characters made the choices that audiences saw in the movies and other TV shows, there's not enough depth to warrant a whole series.
There's not a bad episode in the bunch, but it's not exactly groundbreaking.
That being said, it does have one of the most intimidating Inquisitor designs in the finale, so at least there's that.
8. "Star Wars: Clone Wars" (2003)
While Dave Filoni's "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" delivered in-depth storytelling set against the backdrop of the war between the Republic and the Separatists, there's an even earlier "Clone Wars" series that feels truly unique to the other cartoons.
Helmed by "Samurai Jack" and "Primal" creator, Genndy Tartakovsky, the 2003 "Clone Wars" series debuted on Cartoon Network and features 25 episodes with runtimes ranging from 3 minutes to 12 minutes.
It wasn't afraid to push the boundaries of what was suitable for children's TV, even introducing the grisly villain Durge, whose regenerative tentacles get into body-horror territory.
The only major thing that lets it down is that the episodes fly by far too quickly, which is a shame when the writing is so much fun.
But much like "Tales of the Jedi," it doesn't feel like required viewing — it just gives hardcore fans snapshots of specific battles in the war.
7. "The Bad Batch" (2021)
A spiritual sequel to 2008's "The Clone Wars," "The Bad Batch" follows a group of clones with unique mutations that set them apart from the rest of the Republic's army in the immediate aftermath of Order 66 and the massacre of the Jedi.
Not only that but it sees them try to forge their own path in the galaxy when the Empire phases out the clone army to recruit normal civilians as Stormtroopers.
Interstellar politics aside, the Batch also protects the only female clone created by their makers, adding a fresh dynamic to the action.
It's the perfect blend of "Star Wars" action that's suitable for kids, while also offering enough for older viewers, as it delves further into the clones' perspective on the death of the Jedi and the evolution of the Empire.
The thing that really lets it down is the random "adventure of the week" episodes that really interrupt the flow of the overall story each season.
6. "Obi-Wan Kenobi" (2022)
Fans have been desperate to see Ewan McGregor pick up his blue lightsaber once more ever since the end of "Revenge of the Sith" in 2005, and he finally said, "Hello there," once more in 2022.
The "Obi-Wan Kenobi" series picks up a decade after the hero's brutal duel with his former apprentice, Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen), and he's still tortured by the grief of losing his closest friend.
It's packed with great performances from the whole cast, and fans of the prequels will have their hearts broken all over again by the duel between Obi-Wan and Vader in the finale.
Annoyingly, the severity of it all is taken away, since neither of them can die ahead of the original trilogy.
Throw in some meandering plot deviations involving Force-sensitive refugees, and it gets distracted from Kenobi's character development at times.
Unfortunately, the show is also a casualty of Disney's rush to fill the "Star Wars" demand on its streaming service, which leads to subpar visual effects.
It's a shame because the final product could've been something truly special.
5. "The Mandalorian" (2019)
In its premiere episode, "The Mandalorian" managed to create a pop culture phenomenon that took over the world by introducing Baby Yoda — later revealed to be called Grogu — to the galaxy far far away.
The show from Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni sees Mandalorian warrior Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) try to find other Jedi to teach Grogu how to protect himself. However, he slowly becomes attached to the young Force-user, essentially taking him on as his adoptive son.
If the adorable dynamic between the bounty hunter and the youngling isn't enough, the show also spends time exploring the Mandalorian culture and fleshing it out in ways longtime "Star Wars" fans could once only have dreamed of.
The show weaves in a number of fan-favorite characters from throughout the franchise, though the cameos start to lose their shine by the time the third season rolls around.
Plus, some of the storytelling choices in the most recent season have muddied what the show was even about in the first place.
But as the first modern "Star Wars" show in live action, "The Mandalorian" instantly sets the bar that everything else has to meet.
And though it might not be perfect, it's a joy to see Lucasfilm and Disney expand the universe with the gunslinger and his adorable green sidekick at the forefront of it.
4. "Star Wars Rebels" (2014)
While "Star Wars Rebels" might initially feel a little too light-hearted and silly for some audiences, it quickly stands head and shoulders above some of the other shows — albeit after a shaky start.
"Rebels" takes place just a couple of years before "A New Hope," and follows a new set of characters who slowly help build the Rebel Alliance to become a full-fledged army.
"Rebels" follows Ezra Bridger (Taylor Gray), a young Force-sensitive who is taught by Jedi Kanan Jarrus (Freddie Prinze Jr.) while they go on missions with a crew to disrupt the Empire as much as possible.
From there, the show stunningly explores the mythology of the Jedi and the Sith in much closer detail, also diving into what connects the two sides of the Force.
Not only that, but it also features a number of classic characters in a way that doesn't feel like nostalgia-baiting.
Take Ahsoka, for example. Her story is only enhanced by appearing throughout "Rebels" and her time with Ezra, Kanan and the crew of the Ghost will be a key part of the live-action series starring Rosario Dawson.
What's equally impressive is that "Rebels" is responsible for bringing the Darksaber into the timeline five years before "The Mandalorian" revealed it to the world in its first season finale.
"Rebels" has quietly become one of the most vital parts of the modern "Star Wars" franchise, and it's clear that with 2023's "Ahsoka," the story isn't over yet.
3. "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" (2008)
"Star Wars: The Clone Wars" might've started out as a kids show that spun out of the animated movie of the same name, but it evolved into a much closer look at the clones and the Jedi in the time between "Attack of the Clones" and "Revenge of the Sith."
It builds on the potential that Tartakovsky's show had, as each season is made up of several arcs across multiple episodes. There are some stunning storylines, like the ongoing conflict surrounding Bo-Katan Kryze (Katee Sackhoff) and the planet Mandalore, as well as the surprising return of Darth Maul (Sam Witwer).
While Anakin (Matt Lanter) and Obi-Wan (Stephen Stanton) get plenty of the spotlight, the show's shining star is undeniably the young Jedi, Ahsoka Tano (Ashley Eckstein). Her journey from starting out as an impressionable padawan, to leaving the order entirely is a stunning story arc.
It's the stellar writing behind Ahsoka in "The Clone Wars" that led to fans falling for her, which is why she's made the jump into live action, with Rosario Dawson picking up her dual lightsabers in "The Mandalorian" and "Ahsoka."
2. "Star Wars: Visions" (2021)
A common (and completely understandable) criticism of "Star Wars" is that there's too much of it to keep track of, and it's too difficult to understand when each project takes place in the timeline.
But the "Star Wars: Visions" anthology series is free from all those timeline constraints, as each episode follows a completely different set of characters, animated by a different studio from around the world. And the result is utterly spellbinding.
The anthology approach lets the studios explore a variety of genres in the "Star Wars" universe with a unique visual style, while also telling stories different from the other shows and movies.
The first season kicks off with "The Duel," and takes inspiration from Feudal Japan while introducing a Sith lord who defends a small village.
One of the best episodes of the whole series, "Screecher's Reach," subverts those expectations in a genius way that's darkly beautiful thanks to the animators at Cartoon Saloon.
Honorable mentions have to be given to "I am Your Mother" by Aardman Animation, and "Auu's Song," both of which offer a wholesome take on classic "Star Wars" tropes in a genuinely heartwarming way.
All this is to say that "Visions" offers something for every "Star Wars" fan out there, no matter which part of the franchise they love.
1. "Andor" (2022)
While "Andor" might not be as flashy as other "Star Wars" shows like "The Mandalorian," or even "Obi-Wan Kenobi," it definitely stands head and shoulders above the rest.
Tony Gilroy's moody, rebellious series is the perfect partner to "Rogue One," as it follows Diego Luna's downtrodden Cassian Andor, who transforms from a scrappy fighter into a dedicated rebel.
Its slow-burn nature might be off-putting to start with, but those foundations are masterfully built on to get the audience to connect with its cast, so that when the Empire really shows its ugly side further down the line, it feels much more powerful.
"Andor" mulls over the franchise's themes of rebellion, hope, and the battle between good and evil in a much more realistic, nuanced fashion.
It's worth watching for Stellan Skarsgard's haunted rebel extremist, Luthen Rael, who delivers a stunning monologue about his selfless dedication to the cause.
Look, the Jedi, the Sith, and the Force are all fun and interesting, but "Andor" proves that "Star Wars" can be truly great, even without a lightsaber in sight.
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