To say thatStar Warstelevision was all over the place in 2022 would be an understatement. Four new shows debuted in the last 12 months and showed both the best and worst that the galaxy could offer.The Book of Boba Fettwas a creative failure that unfortunately felt like nothing but an extended build-up to the next season ofThe Mandalorian,andObi-Wan Kenobiindicated that some stories don’t warrant the length of an entire limited series. However,Andorprovided the most nuanced, well-written storyline in the Disney era of the franchise, andTales of the Jedifeatured some of the most stunning animation in the saga’s history.
As with any franchise that produces this much content, there are bumps along the way. The past year ofStar Warstelevision was able to reach out to a wide variety of fans;Tales of the Jedimay have more resonance for children who grew up withThe Clone Wars, andAndormight be a gateway for non-fans to get interested in the universe. Hopefully, this shows that the franchise is looking to tell stories for different audiences, which allows for more creative freedom.
Each of the shows that aired on Disney+ this year had some incredible highs. Here are the bestStar Warstelevision episodes of 2022.
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“Chapter 2: The Tribes of Tatooine,” ‘The Book of Boba Fett’
One of the aspects of theStar Warsfranchise that has never aged well has been the depiction of the Tusken Raiders. Given the Tatooine tribe’s association with indigenous cultures, the depiction of the “Sand People” as ruthless savages isn’t very productive. However,The Book of Boba Fettwas able to show the beauty of their way of life as Fett (Temuera Morrison) remembers how the Tusken Raiders helped him survive in the midst of the desert and rebuild his strength. It’s also one of the few episodes of the series where Fett is vulnerable, as he has respect for cultures that pursue a path of nobility.
“Part I,” Obi-Wan Kenobi
WhileObi-Wan Kenobiquickly moves past Tatooine, the first installment in the miniseries gives us a look at the titular character (Ewan McGregor) in a state of depression. Similar to Luke Skywalker inThe Last Jedi, Obi-Wan feels burdened by his failures, and no longer feels the call of the force as he once did. The brutal introduction of the Grand Inquisitor (Rupert Friend) also marks one of the best translations of an animated character into live-action.
“Part IV,” Obi-Wan Kenobi
“Part IV” ofObi-Wan Kenobiserves as a great reminder of the strength of its heroes. Obi-Wan is forced to uncover a tomb of dead Jedi, and Leia (Vivien Lyra Blair) has to resist her torture at the hands of the Third Sister, Reva Sevander (Moses Ingram). The escape on the ocean moon of Nur features an inventive use of the Force as Obi-Wan weaponizes his environment to his advantage; it feels as if he has fully accepted his role as a Jedi for the first time since his duel with Anakin inRevenge of the Sith.
“Life and Death,” Tales of the Jedi
While the majority of the episodes about Ahsoka Tano (Ashley Eckstein) inTales of the Jedisimply reiterate events that fans are already familiar with, “Life and Death” is a poignant window into her upbringing. We rarely get to see what every Jedi pupil’s life was like before they were accepted into the order, and seeing how Ahsoka’s community recognizes her abilities is quite profound. The gorgeous scenery on Shili pops with the visual flare of an environment relatively removed from technology.
“The Sith Lord,” Tales of the Jedi
While Count Dooku (Corey Burton) wasn’t given enough screen time inThe Clone Wars, “The Sith Lord” offers a more complex view of his descent to the dark side. The series acknowledges that Dooku isn’t completely wrong in his beliefs; the Jedi Order has grown ignorant, and they’ve turned from protectors of peace into lapdogs for the corrupt senate. However, we see that Dooku is ultimately willing to sacrifice his morals during his exhilarating duel with Yaddle (Bryce Dallas Howard).
“Zen – Grogu and Dust Bunnies”
Star Warsand Studio Ghibli seem like a match made in heaven! While this short film is simply an exercise in style, it shows an inventiveness in its visual language and provides one of the heartwarming stories featuring Grogu yet (which is no small statement). Hopefully, it won’t be the last collaboration between Lucasfilm and the legendary animation studio.
“Reckoning,” Andor
The first story arc ofAndorends with a bang as Cassian (Diego) and Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgard) escape from the Pre-Mor officers on Ferrix. The small-scale action is refreshing, and we get a taste of what a master strategist Luthen is as he offers the citizens living in poverty a glimpse of hope. However, many of the most exciting moments revolve around ethical decisions; Cassian chooses not to kill Syril Karn (Kyle Soller), setting the ambitious officer off on a fascinating journey.
“The Eye,” Andor
Rogue Oneoffered just a brief glimpse of what a “Star Warsheist” would look like, but “The Eye” offered a riveting escape mission for the heroes as they infiltrated an Imperial Garrison. It serves as a terrific conclusion to each member of the crew’s arcs; Nemik’s (Alex Lawther) sacrifice is what truly inspires Cassian for the first time, and Skeen’s (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) betrayal reminds him that no one can ever be trusted.
“One Way Out,” Andor
Leave it toAndy Serkisto give one of the greatest performances of theStar Warsfranchise in only a handful of episodes. Kino Loy’s resistance and gradual acceptance of his fate as a martyr epitomizeAndor’s complex views on the nature of a rebel movement.Andoris one of the more politically mindedStar Warsshows, and “One Way Out” serves as a crushing reminder of the cruelty in the prison system.
Andor’s season finale features one of the most moving monologues in the franchise’s history when Maarva (Fiona Shaw) makes her address to the citizens of Ferrix; even in the darkest of scenarios, theStar Warsfranchise has always been about hope. Between Cassian’s final entrapment of Luthen to Mon Mothma’s (Genevieve O’Reilly) heartbreaking decision to place her daughter in an arranged marriage, “Rix Road” is a terrific cliffhanger that leaves fans anxiously anticipating the next season.
