The galaxy far, far away has new stories available for Star Wars fans with a Disney+ subscription in the 2025 TV schedule, with the release of LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy - Pieces of the Past. The four-part animated series recruited some of the biggest names from the franchise to join the cast, including Ashley Eckstein, who has been voicing Ahsoka Tano going back to the earliest days of The Clone Wars. The actress spoke with CinemaBlend about what she always hoped to do on Clone Wars and discussed with executive producer Dave Filoni.

LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy was Eckstein's first opportunity to reprise her role as Ahsoka Tano since Rosario Dawson took over the character in live-action. She shared that Dave Filoni had promised her that she would "always be the voice of Ahsoka in animation," and was understandably emotional when she got the call about Rebuild the Galaxy. That's not to say that the LEGO Star Wars version of Ahsoka is the same as the one whose life was getting progressively worse as each season of The Clone Wars passed.

So, I had to ask Eckstein when we spoke about the 2025 Her Universe Fashion Show: does LEGO Ahsoka get to be any funnier than Clone Wars Ahsoka did by the end of her journey? Eckstein laughed and explained:

Poor Ahsoka wasn't looking too cute or doing much smiling at the end of the Clone Wars series finale back in 2020, what with only her, Rex, and (as she would later have confirmed) Maul surviving Order 66 from the ship she'd been on. Even the passage of time between the end of Clone Wars and her first appearances in Star Wars Rebels wasn't enough to make her do a whole lot of smiling. She'd left "Snips" behind. But Clone Wars canon didn't have to apply for LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy!

All four episodes of LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy - Pieces of the Past are currently available streaming on Disney+, and Eckstein teased a bit of what Ahsoka brings to the animated series. She told me:

Funny or not, Ahsoka has clearly remained dear to Eckstein's heart even years after the end of The Clone Wars, including some words of wisdom about how "Ahsoka lives in all of us," and she even had a message for fans before the premiere of Rosario Dawson's Ahsoka series. Now, nearly two decades after she first voiced the future fan favorite, she still has new means of voicing Ahsoka Tano.

Ashley Eckstein is only one Star Wars fan favorite to return to the franchise for LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy. Other cast members include Mark Hamill, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, Dee Bradley Baker, Sam Witwer, and Kelly Marie Tran, as well as returning main cast members Gaten Matarazzo (Stranger Things), Tony Revolori (Spider-Man: Homecoming), and Bobby Moynihan (Saturday Night Live).

With only four episodes, you can watch LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy – Pieces of the Past one installment at a time or just under two hours via binge-watching. Whatever your approach, the season is available now on Disney+.

It was just last weekend when CinemaBlend attended the Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo, Japan, and got to witness all the big moments. That included the announcement of Ryan Gosling's new movie which was cheered on by fans to Hayden Christensen and Rosario Dawson's reunion on stage ahead both of them returning for Ahsoka Season 2. However,, I have to say, the most I’ve seen Star Wars fans lose their minds all weekend was when it was revealed that a Darth Maul spinoff show is coming out next year.

Just a day after Maul: Shadow Lord had audiences hooting and hollering over the first trailer for the animated series (which remains officially exclusive to Star Wars Celebration), CinemaBlend got to speak to longtime Darth Maul voice actor Sam Witwer about his involvement in the series. In his words:

Sam Witwer’s Maul is featured heavily in the Star Wars: Clone Wars series, which ran from 2008 to 2020 (with a six-year hiatus between 2014 and 2020). Maul: Shadow Lord brings the visual style of Lucasfilm Animation and Darth Maul quite a few steps forward As someone who was in the room when the trailer was shown, I can say the new series absolutely channels the dark side of the Star Wars Universe in a way we’ve never seen before, and my jaw dropped.

The trailer involves Darth Maul rebuilding his criminal empire in the time between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. In the footage we watched, we saw glimpses of him taking on his own apprentice, but through a completely new framing than we’ve seen in a series before. That's because the show is told from the perspective of one of the franchise’s darkest characters. Witwer also said this to CinemaBlend:

How cool is it that Sam Witwer is so involved in Shadow Lord? The voice actor has played the role for over a decade, starting in the Clone Wars series. He's since reprised the role for Rebels, Lego Star Wars and Battlefront II. He even voiced Maul in Solo: A Star Wars Story. After spending years developing the voice, Witwer now has the opportunity to be part of the creative process and see Darth Maul really take center stage for the first time ever.

I absolutely can’t wait for Maul: Shadow Lord to be released in 2026 and, judging by the reactions at Star Wars Celebration, I’m not the only one. There are so many exciting upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows on the way aside from this animated series. So it's a good time to be a fan of the galaxy far, far away.

Some people might like to argue that streaming, in becoming our dominant form of media consumption, has ruined the television industry. Well, there is no doubt that it has changed the industry in many ways and, in some cases, for the better. 

There are many TV shows that are now regarded as classics but might not have earned such an honor if not for audiences discovering it on a streaming platform, helping boost its appeal in a way traditional television could not for whatever reason. Let's take a look at some of the most beloved TV shows that were made more popular (or even saved) by streaming. 

The Wire (2002-2008)

In its initial run, The Wire was already considered one of the best shows on HBO, if not of all time, for its refreshing grounded depiction of urban crime in modern Baltimore from both sides of the law. However, thanks to having a Max subscription (formerly known as HBO Max and, earlier, HBO GO), new generations of viewers have been able to witness David Simon's masterpiece.

You (2018-2024)

Even many of the biggest fans of You might not realize that the serial killer drama starring Penn Badgley is not a true Netflix original. It was canceled after one season on the Lifetime Network and, after becoming a surprise hit on Netflix, the platform picked it up for four more seasons.

Schitt's Creek (2015-2020)

Despite achieving instant success in its home nation of Canada on CBC, creator Dan and Eugene Levy's sitcom following a family's riches-to-rags story went underseen in the States for years on the Pop Network. Luckily, when the series dropped on Netflix, America suddenly could not get enough of the Schitt's Creek cast, the comedy's remarkable quotability, and surprisingly heartfelt moments.

The Expanse (2015-2022)

Based on a series of novels by Daniel Abrahams and Ty Franck (and James S. A. Corey), The Expanse quickly found a following on SyFy as one of the network's smartest and most exciting dramas and, yet, it still got the boot after three seasons. Fortunately, the adventures of James Holden (Steven Strait) and his crew's defense against a conspiracy affecting the colonized solar system were able to continue as one of the best sci-fi TV shows on Amazon Prime for three more seasons.

Suits (2011-2019)

Despite being one of the longest-running series on USA Network, Suits really became a hit in its later years after gaining traction as one of the most-watched TV shows on Netflix. Of course, Suits cast member Meghan Markle's marriage to Prince Harry likely had an influence on the legal drama's success.

The Office (2005-2014)

Greg Daniels' Americanized update of the hilarious British sitcom was certainly a hit on NBC, but its fanbase grew exponentially when it became one of the highest-viewed series on Netflix. It is no wonder why Peacock paid the platform $500 million for the streaming rights to The Office and even released special Superfan cuts of select episodes.

Letterkenny (2016-2023)

To be honest, Letterkenny, which follows the day-to-day lives of people from the titular rural town in the Great White North, already originated on a streaming service: the Canadian-exclusive platform, Crave. However, when it became available in the United States with a Hulu subscription, the quirky sitcom's fanbase took a Texas-size expansion.

Firefly (2002-2003)

There is a variety of reasons why Firefly was canceled after Fox aired only 11 episodes, from a doomed time slot to misguided marketing. Luckily, even before streaming helped widen its fanbase, the now beloved sci-fi TV show following a crew of outlaws traveling beyond the stars released a DVD set that allowed audiences to see the epic Western-style cosmic adventures they missed out on.

Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008)

Following the journey of a young man born with the ability to manipulate the elements air, earth, fire, and water, Avatar: The Last Airbender was a huge hit during its initial run on Nickelodeon. It would only become even more popular when it became available to stream on Netflix, which would go on to produce a live-action series update in 2024.

Breaking Bad (2008-2013)

According to Variety, after Breaking Bad won the Best Drama Series Emmy in 2013, creator Vince Gilligan admitted he owed the success of his groundbreaking drama to Netflix, which later produced El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie. The thriller, following a terminally high school chemistry teacher (played by Bryan Cranston) turning to crime to support his family, could barely be called a hit during its few years on AMC.

 Freaks And Geeks (1999-2000)

One of the first titles that come to mind when people think of series that ended too soon is Freaks and Geeks, which was canceled by NBC after one season for the typical reasons: misguided marketing and a poor time slot. Since most of the Freaks and Geeks cast went on to take Hollywood by storm, the coming-of-age dramedy has become one of the most acclaimed series of its time by fans who discovered in the digital age.

Criminal Minds (2005-Present)

After lasting a whopping 15 seasons on CBS, Criminal Minds continued to captivate audiences as one of the most popular crime TV shows on Netflix. The procedural drama's enduring success eventually led to its revival, on Paramount+.

Manifest (2018-2023)

When NBC canned it after just three seasons, fans prayed that Netflix would swoop in to renew Manifest and, luckily, their wish came true. A fourth and final season of the sci-fi drama, about a commercial jet that suddenly reappears five years after mysteriously vanishing, debuted on the streaming platform, allowing it to have the smooth landing creator Jeff Rake intended.

Lucifer (2016-2021)

Based on a DC Vertigo comic book, Lucifer — starring Tom Ellis as the Devil, taking human form to be an LAPD consultant — debuted on Fox, where it lasted only three seasons. Soon after, it would be hailed as one of the best DC TV shows on Netflix when it was renewed for three more seasons exclusively on the platform.

Community (2009-2015)

Ironically enough, when Dan Harmon's comedy about a close-knit group of community students first transitioned from NBC to a streaming exclusive on the now-defunct Yahoo! Screen, it was considered a disaster. However, fans would go on to revisit the best episodes of Community on Hulu, Netflix, or Peacock, keeping the #SixSeasonsAndAMovie dream alive. 

Gilmore Girls (2000-2007)

One of the most popular shows on The CW (when it was still called The WB) was Gilmore Girls, which would only remain popular and acquire more fans who discovered it with their Netflix subscription. The streaming platform would even serve as the home of a four-episode sequel series called Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.

Friends (1994-2004)

Could Friends have been a bigger bit than it was during its ten-year run on NBC? As it turns out, yes, since the popular '90s TV show became a monster hit on Netflix and, once it left the platform, likely inspired many fans to get a Max subscription just so they could keep the binge going.

Luther (2010-2019)

Some of the best evidence of the enduring popularity of Luther — an acclaimed British crime thriller starring Idris Elba in the brilliant but cantankerous title role — can be found on Netflix. In 2023, the platform distributed a feature-length spin-off called Luther: The Fallen Sun, which quickly became its highest-watched movie and led to a deal for more films.

Arrested Development (2003-2019)

Despite never getting the ratings it needed to be a hit during its three-season run on Fox, Arrested Development was remembered fondly as one of the most hilarious cult favorite TV shows of all time. That enduring legacy led to its revival in 2017 as "a Netflix semi-original series."

Boy Meets World (1993-2000)

In its prime, Boy Meets World was one of the must-see comedies from ABC's TGIF Block in the 1990s and would later spawn a sequel series following Cory (Ben Savage) and Topanga's (Danielle Fishel) daughter, Riley (Rowan Blanchard) called Girl Meets World. The success of the Disney Channel series, also starring Sabrina Carpenter, inspired a new generation of fans to check out the original with their Disney+ subscription. 

Futurama (1999-Present)

Creator Matt Groening's animated satire about an average 20th Century man who wakes up from an accidental, 1000-year cryogenic slumber initially ran for just four seasons on Fox, was revived on Comedy Central from 2008 to 2013, and then, a decade later, became an exclusive on Hulu where it is more popular than ever. At this rate, it looks like Futurama might last well into the future.

Teen Wolf (2011-2017)

MTV's darker take on a funny coming-of-age creature feature from the '80s was a surprise hit, even as one of the best horror TV shows on Hulu in the years since it ended. The continued interest in the series on streaming would lead to a feature-length continuation that premiered on Paramount+ in early 2023.

iCarly (2007-2012, 2021-2023)

Miranda Cosgrove followed her role as the mischievous Megan on Drake & Josh by starring on the Nickelodeon sitcom as a teen internet sensation. People who grew up with the show would rediscover their love for it as adults when Paramount+ revived iCarly with more mature audiences in mind.

The Mindy Project (2012-2017)

Creator and star Mindy Kaling's first major follow-up after playing Kelly Kapoor in NBC's The Office cast was the aptly titled The Mindy Project, in which she plays an OB/GYN struggling to balance her personal and professional life. It premiered on Fox, where it remained for three seasons, before moving exclusively to Hulu for the latter half of its run.

Longmire (2012-2017)

Based on a series of novels by Craig Johnson, Longmire is a neo-Western drama starring Australian actor Robert Taylor as the titular Wyoming sheriff who brings his own brand of justice to his county. Despite debuting on A&E as the cable network's highest-rated original drama, it was not renewed for a fourth season, leading Netflix to step in and become its home for another three years.

Trailer Park Boys (2001-2018)

A show that Letterkenny fans would enjoy if they have not heard of it already is Trailer Park Boys — another comedy set in rural Canada which, for its first seven years, aired on a channel exclusive to the country called Showcase. A newfound interest in the documentary-style series and its feature-length spin-offs in the United States led Netflix to acquire the show in 2012, lasting several more seasons and even spawning more specials and an animated series.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008-2020)

Before a new Star Wars TV show premiered on Disney+ every few months or so, one of the most beloved small-screen titles to come from a galaxy far, far away was Star Wars: The Clone Wars. However, the Force initially could have been stronger with this one as it was canceled by Cartoon Network in 2013 before gaining newfound popularity on Netflix (where a new season was distributed) the following year and, later, getting revived for one more batch of episodes on DIsney+ in 2020.

Parks And Recreation (2009-2015) 

Despite being the brainchild of The Office producers Greg Daniels and Michael Schur and starring former SNL cast member Amy Poehler in the lead, Parks and Recreation struggled to find its footing on NBC for its first couple of years. The mockumentary-style political satire got a bit of a boost in popularity once it dropped on Netflix and, for years after it ended, earned a reputation as one of the most popular series on the platform.

White Collar (2009-2014)

The show that made a star out of actor Matt Bomer is White Collar, in which he stars as a suave professional criminal who works with the FBI to catch other cons like him. Like many other USA original series, the dramedy was a much bigger hit on Netflix than it was during its initial run on the network.

Designated Survivor (2016-2019)

Kiefer Sutherland stars in Designated Survivor as the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, who is suddenly appointed President after everyone in the chain of command above him is killed in a catastrophic attack. The political drama was canceled after only two years on ABC but would go on for one more season on Netflix.

The Nanny (1993-1999)

Co-creator and star Fran Drescher is best known for playing Fran Fine on The Nanny, which had a strong run on CBS in the 1990s. The sitcom is noted for appealing to a new generation when it dropped on Max.

The Killing (2011-2014)

The American version of the Danish television series Forbrydelsen, The Killing, originally premiered on AMC, which would cancel the dark crime drama after its third season, which almost did not happen. The series then made an official transition to Netflix, where its fourth and final season was distributed.

Ashley Eckstein is undoubtedly best known for her role in the Star Wars franchise as Ahsoka Tano starting back in 2008, but voicing a Jedi in the galaxy far, far away hasn't been the most nerve-wracking experience of her career. The actress/author/designer/host spoke with CinemaBlend ahead of her annual arrival at San Diego Comic-Con for the Her Universe Fashion Show about why this is the project that makes her the "most nervous."

Her Universe is returning to SDCC for its tenth annual fashion show, where geek couture will be showcased on the runway with Ashley Eckstein and Michael James Scott hosting. After the Her Universe Fashion Show last year was able to honor Disney's 100th anniversary, the 2024 event will be presented by Mattel. When I spoke with Eckstein about this year's presentation, she shared whether it's still nerve-wracking for her to do despite already having nine successful shows behind her:

Feeling nervous about hosting the show feels like a good thing to Ashley Eckstein, who was already excited to hype that she'll be able to do something for 2024 that she's been dreaming of for years. The fashion show is quickly approaching, as it is scheduled for Thursday, July 25 at SDCC.

Of course, making the fashion show happen year in and year out hasn't been a solo endeavor, even before she had a co-host, first with RuPaul's Drag Race alum Nina West in 2022 and then with Broadway's Michael James Scott in 2023. Eckstein made sure to credit the people around her who have helped her make the dream come true on the Comic-Con runway. She went on:

The fashion show with the Mattel theme will showcase the creativity of no fewer than 25 designers on the runway at SDCC this year, with one-of-a-kind geek couture looks that can't be found anywhere else. There will be two winners: one chosen by the audience and another chosen by a panel of judges. The event has become quite popular over its ten years so far, even overcoming challenges to create a virtual show back in 2021.

I spoke with Ashley Eckstein spoke weeks ahead of the 2024 Her Universe Fashion Show, and she was already feeling the nerves at that point. But after ten years of preparing for the SDCC runway, are the nerves higher in the build up to the event or once she's on stage actually hosting? I asked Ashley Eckstein that very question, and she explained:

The 2024 Her Universe Fashion Show will take place on Thursday, July 25 at 6 p.m. PT in the Harbor Ballroom of the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel as part of San Diego Comic-Con. You can also revisit past shows on the Her Universe YouTube page, including the virtual fashion show from 2021.

Speaking with CinemaBlend in years past, she shared the "number one rule" of the fashion show: any fandom can be showcased. Whether or not that means paying tribute to Ahsoka Tano's legacy in Star Wars, Eckstein is always nervous and excited for what fans bring to the runway. Check out a preview below:

In addition to the upcoming Her Universe Fashion show, you can find Ashley Eckstein's work as Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars projects including (but not limited to) The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, and Tales of the Jedi streaming with a Disney+ subscription.

Although Hayden Christensen is the actor best known for playing Anakin Skywalker, namely because of his starring role in two of the Star Wars movies in order, Matt Lanter’s time voicing the character for Star Wars: The Clone Wars should certainly not be glossed over. After all, among other things, it was during Lanter’s time paying Anakin that the character’s apprentice, Ahsoka Tano, was introduced. Originally voiced by Ashley Eckstein, now Rosario Dawson is bringing the character to life in live-action, but Lanter has yet to see Ahsoka, though he has a good reason for missing out.

To be clear up front, it’s not like Matt Lanter is deliberately avoiding Ahsoka. As he explained while speaking with Collider’s Maggie Levitt during a panel at Fan Expo Boston, it boils down to both he and his wife, Angela Stacy, just not having enough room in their schedule to view the series together with their Disney+ subscription. Here’s what Lanter said with a grin when a fan asked if he’d seen Hayden Christensen’s performance in Ahsoka:

Ahsoka marked Hayden Christensen’s second time taking part in the Star Wars franchise’s Disney era, as in 2022, he appeared in Obi-Wan Kenobi as both Anakin from a pre-Attack of the Clones flashback and Darth Vader during the miniseries’ main storyline. In Ahsoka’s case though, thanks to the episode “Part Five: Shadow Warrior,” which saw Ahsoka Tano experiencing a flashback to the Clone Wars (with the teenaged Ahsoka being played by Avengers: Infinity War’s Ariana Greenblatt) while in the World Between Worlds, it finally gave Christensen the opportunity to play an Anakin who interacted with Ahsoka during that conflict. Yes, we did Anakin active during the final days of the Clone Wars during 2005’s Revenge of the Sith, but it’d be another three years before Ahsoka was introduced to the canon.

It sounds like eventually the day will come when Matt Lanter and Angela Stacy can make time and watch Ahsoka Season 1, but regardless, the actor also expressed his gratitude that the series took inspiration from The Clone Wars, saying:

The good news for Lanter and his wife is that they can look forward to more than just these eight released episodes, as another season is officially on the way. Among the things we know about Ahsoka Season 2 is that composer Kevin Kiner will continue scoring the show, and concept art was released of the title character and Sabine Wren atop one of the statues that Baylan Skoll found in the Season 1 finale. It’ll be a while until Season 2 comes out, so fingers crossed Lanter and Stacy are caught up before that yet-to-be-announced premiere date.

If you’re looking for new Star Wars small screen content to enjoy, The Acolyte is currently unfolding on Disney+, and Skeleton Crew is also expected to hit the 2024 TV schedule. Otherwise, continue checking back with CinemaBlend for news on upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows.

Without George Lucas, there would be no Luke Skywalker, no Death Star, no Boba Fett, no Baby Yoda, and the collection of great movies on Disney+ would look vastly different. However, while Lucas is responsible for creating the massively popular franchise set in a galaxy far, far away, there are a handful of others whose names are listed as director for some of the best Star Wars movies.

With the property being as popular as ever, and a few high-profile upcoming Star Wars movies on the way, we decided to take a step back and look at all of the directors who have helped shape the franchise into what we know it as today. With all three sequels from the “Skywalker Saga” and every released standalone movie included, we’ve put together a rather robust list sorted by release date.

George Lucas, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)

When he sat behind the camera for Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, George Lucas was a talented yet relatively unknown director who only had two credits to his name: THX 1138 and American Graffiti. That would soon change upon the May 1977 release of the franchise starter, which propelled Lucas and the film’s cast into superstardom and made him a household name, a distinction that has remained true for nearly 50 years.

Irvin Kershner, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Though very much involved with the story, production, and everything else surrounding Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, Lucas passed on the opportunity to direct the film due to not wanting to relive the stress from the first film, per the New York Times. He took a risk and selected Irvin Kershner, best known for films like The Hoodlum Priest, Up the Sandbox, and S*P*Y*S, and it ultimately paid off and gave us one of the best sequels of all time. However, it wasn’t all pleasant for everyone, as Mark Hamill butted heads with Kershner during his first and only Star Wars movie.

Richard Marquand, Star Wars: Episode VI – Return Of The Jedi (1983)

When it came to closing the Star Wars trilogy, Lucas selected Richard Marquand to direct Return of the Jedi, who beat out names like Steven Spielberg, David Lynch, and David Cronenberg, per Collider. Marquand would close out the first phase of the franchise with a divisive finale that seems to get much more praise as the years go on.

George Lucas, Star Wars: Episode I – Phantom Menace (1999)

When it came time for Star Wars to return to the big screen with the long-awaited prequels, George Lucas returned to the director’s chair 20 years after taking a more behind-the-scenes role with The Empire Strikes Back. The result of his return was 1999’s Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menance, a movie that is not without its shortcomings but also one that gave us the iconic “Duel of the Fates” lightsaber battle.

George Lucas, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack Of The Clones (2002)

The filmmaker stuck around for the second installment in the “Prequel Trilogy” Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones. Though fans have started to appreciate the prequels, including the middle chapter, in recent years, this 2002 movie remains a low point for the franchise.

George Lucas, Star Wars: Episode III -  Revenge Of The Sith (2005)

The “Prequel Trilogy” came to an end in 2005 with Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, which was once again directed by Lucas. Conversations surrounding the film’s legacy have gone in every direction in the nearly 20 years since its release, but there’s no denying that Lucas directed the hell out of the Mustafar duel.

Dave Filoni, Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008)

Dave Filoni has gone on to be one of the driving forces behind the brand over the years, and it all started with him directing the 2008 animated movie, Star Wars: The Clone Wars. The beloved film, which would lead into the the TV series of the same name, took place not long after the events of Attack of the Clones and further expanded the story of Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi, while also introducing fan-favorites like Ahsoka Tano.

J.J. Abrams, Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015)

In December 2015, three years after Disney acquired Lucasfilm, Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens was released into theaters around the world and became a massive box office hit. J.J. Abrams, who became one of the major stakeholders in the property following the acquisition, directed the first live-action Star Wars movie in a decade and kicked off the “Sequel Trilogy” in the process.

Gareth Edwards, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

One year after The Force Awakens made beaucoup money at the box office, Disney released its first anthology film with Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Directed by Gareth Edwards, who was hot off of the release of Godzilla two years earlier, told the story of the rebel spies who secured the secret Death Star plans and chronicled the sacrifices they made to save the galaxy.

Rian Johnson, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017)

Either the most daring or divisive Star Wars movie depending on who you ask, Rian Johnson’s The Last Jedi broke from the status quo and offered a fresh take for the galaxy far, far away. There has been talk of Johnson returning to the franchise at some point in the future, but he has been rather busy the past few years with the Knives Out series, including his upcoming Wake Up Dead Man.

Ron Howard, Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

More than 40 years after working with Lucas in American Graffiti, Ron Howard joined the franchise with 2018’s Solo: A Star Wars Story, replacing Phil Lord and Chris Miller in the process. The movie, which saw Alden Ehrenreich take on the role of a young Han Solo, wasn’t well received and is currently the final Star Wars anthology film. 

J.J. Abrams, Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise Of Skywalker (2019)

Colin Trevorrow was supposed to direct the final installment of the “Sequel Trilogy,” which at one point had the working title of Duel of the Fates, but J.J. Abrams ultimately returned to wrap up the Skywalker Saga with The Rise of Skywalker. Though the lowest-ranked live-action Star Wars movie on Rotten Tomatoes, TROS still made a ton of cash at the box office, though there hasn’t been a new theatrical release since its December 2019 debut.

Though there aren’t any Star Wars movies on the 2024 movie schedule, there are some promising series set in the galaxy on the 2024 TV calendar that should hold fans’ attention while we wait. 

When you make your way through the Star Wars movies in order, obviously there are certain characters who stand out above the others, including Luke Skywalker, Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Han Solo, Leia Organa, Rey, Finn, Poe Dameron, the list goes on. And then there are characters who may have supporting roles in these movies or only briefly appear, which is fine since not everyone can have the exact same level of importance. Still, you may find yourself wanting more from them.

That’s why we’ve compiled this list of 32 Star Wars characters who appeared in the movies, but have shined in other media tied to the franchise. This list primarily covers content from the official Star Wars canon, but there will also be some talk about the old Legends continuity, which became defunct in 2014.

Boba Fett

Although Boba Fett collected a lot of fans from his appearances in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, and was later featured as a child in Attack of the Clones, frankly, he barely functions as a character in those movies. Fortunately, both the Legends-era material and the official canon have given him a lot to do, with the former largely consisting of roles in novels and comic books, and the latter putting him in the spotlight during some episodes of the TV shows The Clone Wars and The Mandalorian Season 2, as well as his own limited series, The Book of Boba Fett.

Count Dooku

Count Dooku was certainly presented as a capable threat in the latter half of Attack of the Clones, but he was quickly taken off the board by Anakin Skywalker at the beginning of Revenge of the Sith. So if you’re looking to enjoy more of the former Jedi master-turned-Sith Lord, start with watching various The Clone Wars episodes and the three episodes focused on him in Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi, and and then reading the book Dooku: Jedi Lost. If you’re a Legends fan, Dark Rendezvous is also worth a read.

Lobot

To most people who’ve seen the Star Wars movies, Lobot is just the silent guy with the weird mechanical apparatus around his head who was by Lando Calrissian’s side in The Empire Strikes Back. Well, you should know that he’s one of Lando’s closest allies, and that’s demonstrated in various Marvel Comics series, like the main title and the Lando miniseries. He also briefly appears in the Last Shot novel.

Sabé

You may not know her by name, but anyone who’s seen The Phantom Menace knows Sabé, as she’s the handmaiden who impersonated Queen Amidala for the majority of that movie. For those interested in learning what happened to her after the first Prequel Trilogy entry, check out Marvel Comics’ Darth Vader comic book series set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, as she plays a key role in its story.

Phasma

Like Boba Fett, Captain Phasma was really only around to look cool during her two Sequel Trilogy appearances, although at least she proved herself more capable in The Last Jedi than Boba did in Return of the Jedi. In any case, pick up the Phasma novel if you want to learn about how she joined The First Order, and the Star Wars: Captain Phasma miniseries to learn what happened to her between The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. She was also a supporting antagonist in Star Wars Resistance.

General Grievous

Although General Grievous was certainly no pushover in Revenge of the Sith, the movie also didn’t do the commander of the Separatists’ droid army justice for just how dangerous he is. The original Clone Wars micro series did that properly when it introduced him to the world, but even if we’re just limiting ourselves to the official canon, The Clone Wars and the Tales of the Empire miniseries do tremendous jobs of showing off of Grievous’ ruthlessness and skills that allowed him to kill countless Jedi, clones, the list goes on.

Darth Maul

There’s no question that Darth Maul came out of The Phantom Menace looking like a boss with his double-bladed lightsaber, but he only served as a weapon carrying out Darth Sidious’ will. If you want to really get to know Maul the character, then the latter half of The Clone Wars and a good chunk of Star Wars Rebels are must-watches. The former in particular adds context for why he cameoed in Solo. Maul’s also frequently appeared in books and comic book series from both the official canon and Legends.

Jango Fett

Jango Fett will always be important to the franchise as the genetic template for the clone troopers, which includes raising Boba, an unaltered clone, as his son. We also got a sense of how ruthless a bounty hunter he was when he killed Zam Wessell to cover his tracks and when he put up a decent fight against Obi-Wan Kenobi. But if you’re craving more action featuring Jango, track down the Legends-set video game Star Wars: Bounty Hunter so you can play as him going on various missions.

Wedge Antilles

Wedge Antilles is the only non-core Original Trilogy character to appear in all three of those movies, as he was seen participating in the Battle of Yavin, the Battle of Hoth and the space portion of the Battle of Endor. An older Wedge also cameoed in The Rise of Skywalker, and his younger self appeared in a few Rebels episodes. Book-wise, though, he’s done quite well for himself, appearing in the canon Aftermath trilogy and Star Wars: Resistance Reborn, and leading the X-Wing novels from the Legends era.

Plo Koon

Like the next several entries on this list, Plo Koon was just one of the many silent Jedi who appeared during the Prequel Trilogy, and we saw his ship shot down when Order 66 was executed in Revenge of the Sith. Watch The Clone Wars to learn how he sounds and see him properly in action. Need extra incentive? He’s the one who discovered Ahsoka Tano.

Kit Fisto

Kit Fisto got a slightly bigger platform than your average, silent Prequel-era Jedi when he accompanied Mace Windu to arrest Chancellor Palpatine with Agen Kolar and Sassee Tiin. He barely lasted longer against the Sith Lord than those last two, so if you’d like a better idea of how capable Kit actually was, check out his prominent appearances in The Clone Wars. There’s also the Legends novel The Cetus Deception if you’re craving more from the character.

Luminara Unduli

All you’ll really see of Luminara Unduli in the Star Wars movies is a few brief shots of her with her lightsaber in Attack of the Clones, and then making a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo on Kashyyyk in Revenge of the Sith. So watch The Clone Wars to see her being put to good use, and then head over to the Rebels episode “Rise of the Old Masters” to witness how she was horrifically used long after dying.

Barriss Offee

Barriss Offee was Luminara Unduli’s Pawadan when the Clone Wars broke out, so you’ll see her by her master’s side a little bit during Attack of the Clones. But it was The Clone Wars where she really shined, albeit not always as a hero, as the final episodes of Season 5 took her down a dark path. Then over a decade later, three of Tales of the Empire’s episodes showed what happened to her during the Empire’s reign.

Shaak Ti

It may sound like a broken record at this point, but once again, here’s another Jedi from the final days of the Old Republic who was followed a decent amount in The Clone Wars, and she also appeared in the Dark Disciple book. Additionally though, over in the Legends role, Shaak Ti played a prominent role in the Star Wars: The Force Unleashed video game, having survived Order 66 in this continuity.

Yaddle

Until Grogu became The Mandalorian’s breakout character, the only other member of Yoda’s species ever show was Yaddle, who was a Jedi Council member during The Phantom Menace. But Yaddle was nowhere to be seen in Attack of the Clones. Well, check out Tales of the Jedi if you want to learn what happened to her. This also cleared up that Yoda’s peculiar way of speaking is unique to him alone, not something done by others in his and Yaddle’s species.

Jar Jar Binks

There’s no question that Jar Jar Binks has one of the worst reputations of the Star Wars characters, and certainly no one is obligated to pretend they like him. That being said, The Clone Wars does do a decent job of giving the Gungan a handful of opportunities to come off looking a little better. It’s also worth reading the novel Aftermath: Empire’s End to learn what happened to Jar Jar after the events of Return of the Jedi.

Wilhuff Tarkin

Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin functioned as a compelling secondary villain next to Darth Vader in A New Hope, even though he was actually the one calling the shots in this movie. Alas, his overconfidence in the first Death Star proved to be his undoing. Not to worry, though because along with him cameoing in Revenge of the Sith and Rogue One giving him a key supporting role, the TV shows The Clone Wars, The Bad Batch and Rebels gave him a lot to do. If you really want to dig into Tarkin’s psyche, read the novel about him published in 2014.

Commander Cody

Commander Cody offhandedly mentioned in Revenge of the Sith that he and Obi-Wan Kenobi had been on many missions together, Well, you can see some of those missions in The Clone Wars and see what their dynamic was like before Cody ordered the Jedi Master to be executed as part of Order 66. Cody also appears in The Bad Batch episode “The Solitary Clone,” where we learn how he’s handling working for the Empire.

Mon Mothma

Mon Mothma briefly appeared in Return of the Jedi as one of the Rebellion’s high-ranking leaders, and she was also supposed to appear in Revenge of the Sith, but her scenes were deleted. Fortunately, not only did Genevieve O’Reilly, who played the character in the latter, not only get to make a proper cinematic appearance as Mothma in Rogue One, but she’s also portrayed her in Rebels, Andor and Ahsoka.

Bossk

Like the next two entries on this list, Bossk cameoed in The Empire Strikes Back as one of the bounty hunters Darth Vader hired alongside Boba Fett to track down the Millennium Falcon. Make your way through The Clone Wars and the tie-in novel Dark Disciple to see what Bossk was up to during the title conflict, then jump over to Marvel Comics’ Bounty Hunters series to follow along with him post-Empire, pre-Return of the Jedi.

Dengar

Like Bossk and the following entry, Dengar was spotlighted in the Legends continuity through one of the short stories in Tales of the Bounty Hunters, amidst other appearances. Canon-wise, though, his list of appearances includes a couple of episodes of The Clone Wars, Marvel’s Darth Vader series that began publication in 2015, Target Vader, the aforementioned Bounty Hunters and the first two Aftermath books.

Zuckuss And 4-LOM

The bizarre-looking Zuckuss and his droid companion 4-LOM make for an extremely effective bounty hunting duo. They also play significant roles in the Bounty Hunters comic book series and the Dark Droids crossover event, and you can see them among other bounty hunters from the Empire Strikes Back era in “Wait for It,” one of the short stories from From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back.

Maz Kanata

Although Maz Kanata played an important role in The Force Awakens by bringing back Luke Skywalker’s original lightsaber, she barely had anything to do in both The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker. So if you’re looking to see more of the character, read material like The High Republic Adventures, the Han Solo & Chewbacca comic book series, Aftermath: Life Debt and Last Shot.

Cassian Andor

There’s no question that Cassian Andor was key to Rogue One’s story, and one could certainly make a strong argument for him being the movie’s second most important character behind Jyn Erso. But fans of the character got lucky, as the Andor series wound the clock back to show what Diego Luna’s character was doing in the five years ahead of him meeting Jyn and perishing on Scarif. This series also has the benefit of being one of the more grounded and grittier Star Wars projects.

Qi’ra

When we left off with Qi’ra at the end of Solo, she’d contacted Maul, leader of the Crimson Dawn crime syndicate, to inform him of Dryden Vos’ death and blame Tobias Beckett for their mission’s failure. While we never got to see Qi’ra meet up with Maul on Dathomir, she returned to prominence in the pages of Marvel’s Crimson Trilogy which comprised the Star Wars crossover events War of the Bounty Hunters, Crimson Reign and Hidden Empire.

Knights Of Ren

Following the Knights of Ren being teased in The Force Awakens, they didn’t resurface until The Rise of Skywalker, and even then they only served the function of nameless heavies, barely any more important than stormtroopers or the Praetorian Guard in The Last Jedi. So read Marvel’s Star Wars: The Rise of Kylo Ren to learn how he joined this group, or read the Crimson Trilogy to see what these characters were up to before Return of the Jedi.

Rose Tico

Despite Rose Tico being an important character in The Last Jedi, she only had a couple of minutes of screen time in The Rise of Skywalker, and many fans were disappointed with her being sidelined. The good news, though, is that Rose’s fans can see what she was doing prior to Episode VIII in her Age of Resistance one-shot, then follow her between that movie and Episode XI in the Resistance Reborn and Spark of the Resistance books, and the Allegiance comic book miniseries.

Bail Organa

We met Bail Organa, Leia’s adoptive father, in Attack of the Clones, and then he played a bigger role in Revenge of the Sith, followed by a minor appearance in Rogue One. Once you’re done watching those movies, head over to The Clone Wars to see his activities during the Republic’s war with the Separatist, then watch Obi-Wan Kenobi to see him reunite with the title Jedi Master and finally get to see what kind of a parent he was to Leia.

Greedo

When the name Greedo pops up in Star Wars fans’ conversations, it’s almost always in reference to the “Han shot first” debate. But don’t let your opinion of the character rest only on his untimely demise: read Han Solo & Chewbacca and a handful of From a Certain Point of View: A New Hope’s short stories to learn more about him. Also, fun fact, that little Rodian kid who makes fun of Anakin Skywalker in The Phantom Menace is Greedo.

Snap Wexley

Poe Dameron was the X-Wing pilot extraordinaire in the Sequel Trilogy, but Snap Wexley was pretty good in the seat of one of these starfighters too. We saw him in action during The Force Awakens and The Rise of Skywalker, but you can also follow along with him in the Aftermath trilogy, the Bloodline book and the Poe Dameron comic book series to learn more about this member of the Resistance.

Amilyn Holdo

Amilyn Holdo will arguably always be best known for jumping into hyperspace through Supreme Leader Snoke’s ship in The Last Jedi, a suicide attack that was later called “The Holdo Maneuver.” Fortunately, there are plenty of stories from her past that have been told in Star Wars media, including the book Leia: Princess of Alderaan, where we learn how those two became close, and various appearances in Marvel’s comic books.

Ochi Of Bestoon

Don’t be embarrassed if you don’t remember Ochi of Bestoon in The Rise of Skywalker, as he was only briefly seen in a hologram and flashbacks as the assassin/Jedi hunter who was being pursued by Luke Skywalker and Lando Calrissian on Pasaana, where he died. If you really want to know what this character’s deal is, read Shadow of the Sith to learn the specifics of his death and how he’s connected to Rey and her parents, as well as the Darth Vader comic book series set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, as he’s one of the Sith Lord’s main minions during this period.

So if any of these characters appealed to you in any way, check out those recommended stories and feel free to do more research into the character. 

If there’s one object that immediately comes to mind when thinking of the Star Wars movies in order and the franchise’s TV shows (which can all be streamed with a Disney+ subscription), it’s the lightsaber. As Obi-Wan Kenobi explained in A New Hope, it’s "the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or as random as a blaster. An elegant weapon for a more civilized age.” Granted, we’ve seen characters like General Grievous who’ve wielded lightsabers and aren’t attuned to the Force, but for the most part, these are energy blades most closely associated with the Jedi and Sith.

Although lightsaber duels aren’t present in every Star Wars project, there have been a lot of them over the decades, with Light and Dark Side users showing off their swordplay in all sorts of environments. So, what are the cream of the crop with these battles? We’ve ranked the 10 best lightsaber duels across the movies and TV shows, both by simply how cool they look and the narrative importance to their respective stories.

10. Ahsoka Tano Vs. Baylan Skoll (First Fight)

Halfway through Ahsoka Season 1’s run, Rosario Dawson’s title character drew her white blades against the orange blade wielded by the late Ray Stevenson’s Baylan Skoll, a fallen Jedi who was in cahoots Morgan Elsbeth and, by extension, Grand Admiral Thrawn. Although these two would fight again before Season 1 finished, this was the superior lightsaber battle. You won’t get any flashy acrobatics between Ahsoka and Baylan, but the intense way they’re swinging their blades at one another more than make up for that. In this smaller fight, the tension is electric.

9. Rey Vs. Kylo Ren (The Rise Of Skywalker)

Although Rey put up a good fight against Kylo Ren in The Force Awakens, their duel in The Rise of Skywalker was more satisfying to watch. At this point, Rey is much more skilled in the ways of the Force, so it’s great to see her put those skills to good use in the rematch against Kylo Ren, who’s still no slouch. As with the previous fight on this list, intensity makes up for the lack of acrobatics, and it also ends on an unusual, but intriguing note when Rey stabs Kylo, then use the Force to heal him.

8. Ahsoka Tano Vs. Darth Vader

During Star Wars Rebels Season 2, Ahsoka Tano was shocked to learn that Anakin Skywalker, her former master, was not killed during Order 66, but was actually Darth Vader. That revelation was heartbreaking enough, but then these two came face-to-face on Malachor, and the close bond they once shared meant nothing to Vader, as he drew his red blade against Ahsoka’s white blades without any hesitation. This would be a powerful lightsaber duel for any Star Wars fan to watch, but The Clone Wars fans in particular get that added layer of appreciation knowing what kind of relationship Anakin and Ahsoka once had.

7. Yoda Vs. Count Dooku

Ever since he was introduced in The Empire Strikes Back, Yoda was cemented as one of the most powerful Jedi who ever lived, but it wasn’t until Attack of the Clones that we first saw him draw a lightsaber onscreen. He arrived just in the knick of time after Count Dooku defeated Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi, drawing his red blade against the Sith Lord, who’d once been Yoda’s apprentice. Because his small statute required him to jump around a lot, this ranks as one of the more visually-interesting lightsaber duels, and I suspect Yoda would have won had Dooku not tried to crush Anakin and Obi-Wan with Force-pulled rubble.

6. Obi-Wan Kenobi Vs. Darth Vader (Obi-Wan Kenobi Series, Second Fight)

When Obi-Wan Kenobi first battled Darth Vader in his self-titled limited series, he was nearly killed. But when these two locked lightsabers again in the Obi-Wan Kenobi finale, Ewan McGregor’s character was better prepared and overpowered his former apprentice. Although the battle itself is incredibly well choreographed, it gets extra points for the emotional moment of Vader telling Obi-Wan he’s not the one responsible for “killing” Anakin Skywalker, allowing Obi-Wan to finally make peace with his friend being “dead.”

5. Luke Skywalker Vs. Darth Vader (Return Of The Jedi)

Although not the most emotionally impactful of the two duels between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, there’s still a lot to appreciate from their clash in Return of the Jedi. The dueling itself is interesting to watch, at least by Original Trilogy standards, but it’s the stakes that truly make this battle stand out, namely how Palpatine wants to see which of them will emerge victorious so the winner will become/stay his apprentice. That ends up being Luke, but rather than kill his father, he tossed his lightsaber aside, showing how love can conquer hate.

4. Luke Skywalker Vs. Darth Vader (The Empire Strikes Back)

Luke Skywalker put up a pretty good fight against Darth Vader in their first showdown, though needless to say the latter was toying with the former. This duel in The Empire Strikes Back also kicked things up a notch from the duel between Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi in A New Hope by delivering more forceful blows and taking place across multiple locations. But, of course, what makes this duel stand out the most is how it ends with Vader cutting off Luke’s hand and revealing to him that he is his father.

3. Ahsoka Tano Vs. Darth Maul

While this lightsaber duel hasn’t gotten nearly as many eyes on it given that it happened in The Clone Wars Season 7 rather than one of the movies, there’s no question it deserves a lot more recognition. Even just from a technical standpoint, this duel was an enormous achievement because the movements were performed in motion capture by Ray Park, Darth Maul’s original actor, and Lauren Mary Kim, who stood in for Ahsoka Tano. From a narrative perspective, it was amazing to see Ahsoka defeat Maul immediately before the Clone Wars ended, providing one last positive moment before everything on the show went to hell.

2. Qui-Gon Jinn And Obi-Wan Kenobi Vs. Darth Maul

The lightsaber duels in the Original Trilogy weren’t boring by any means, but there’s no question that these kinds of battles were never the same after The Phantom Menace. When Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi faced off against Darth Maul on Naboo, the combination of the Sith Lord’s double-bladed lightsaber and the Force-powered jumping from the participants opened new doors for this franchise as “Duel of the Fates” played. Even beyond the flashiness, this duel still hits home with Qui-Gon’s tragic death and Obi-Wan avenging his master by slicing Maul in half. 

1. Obi-Wan Kenobi Vs. Anakin Skywalker

It still doesn’t get any better than Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi’s epic clash in Revenge of the Sith on Mustafar. After executing younglings at the Jedi Temple and the Separatist leadership on the lava planet, these two drew their blue blades against each other after Anakin incorrectly assumed that Obi-Wan had turned Padme against him. The former master and apprentice with a brotherly bond fought across the hellish landscape with “Battle of the Heroes” as background music until Obi-Wan gained the high ground and sliced off almost all of Anakin’s limbs and left him horribly burned. If there’s a lightsaber duel that comes close to perfectly mixing action and emotion, it’s this one.

Keep checking back here as the Star Wars franchise keeps going to see if any new lightsaber duels result in these rankings being adjusted accordingly. As always, count on us to deliver the latest and greatest in coverage on upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows.

At the end of Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 5, Ahsoka Tano left the Jedi Order after being framed for a terrorist bombing on Coruscant, which was actually carried out by her friend and fellow Jedi Barriss Offee. While we’ve since reunited with Ahsoka in other projects, most recently her own live-action Disney+ show (which is returning for Season 2), the fate of Barriss has been left unanswered, but that will soon change. The character, reprised by Meredith Salenger, is being highlighted in Star Wars: Tales of the Empire, the upcoming Star Wars TV show arriving to Disney+ subscribers later this week, and CinemaBlend has an exclusive clip of Barriss learning about Order 66 from someone who should look familiar to fans of The Inquisitors.

Just like how Tales of the Jedi dedicated three episodes each to showing untold chapters of Ahsoka Tano and Count Dooku’s lives, Tales of the Empire will focus on Barriss Offee and Morgan Elsbeth, the latter of whom was seen serving Thrawn in The Mandalorian Season 2 and Ahsoka Season 1. Regarding Barriss, the clips starts with her asleep in her prison cell, as she received a life sentence for crimes against the Republic after the Clone Wars episode “The Wrong Jedi.” On an especially stormy day, she’s visited by someone she knows called Lyn, but hardcore Star Wars fans will know her better as Fourth Sister, who was introduced to the canon in Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Lyn, voiced in this show by Rya Kihlstedt, notes how during her trial, Barriss Offee accused the Jedi of murder and treason, and she was “right after all” because they “tried to assassinate Chancellor Palpatine.” Of course, anyone who’s watched the Star Wars movies in order knows the full story of what actually went down in Revenge of the Sith, but as far as Barriss is concerned, Lyn intends to use this “betrayal” to present her with an opportunity. The clip ends before we learn what it is, but if you’ve seen the Tales of the Empire trailer, you know that Barriss will train to become an Inquisitor.

Barriss will train under Jason Isaacs’ The Grand Inquisitor, who was Star Wars Rebels Season 1’s main antagonist and served as a supporting villain in Obi-Wan Kenobi, where he was played by Rupert Friend. Ironically, it was Barriss who set Grand Inquisitor on this path, as he was originally a Jedi Temple Guard who was present in her trial and was swayed by her comments about becoming disillusioned by the Jedi Order. Now he’ll give her the chance to aid in hunting down Jedi who survived Order 66, though whether or not she’ll actually join the Inquisitorious remains to be seen.

All six episodes of Star Wars: Tales of the Empire premiere Saturday, May 4 on Disney+. After that, the next Star Wars TV show on deck is The Acolyte, which is set during the High Republic era and will drop its first two episodes on Tuesday, June 4.

For almost a half century Star Wars movies and TV series have given us a world that is a constant battle between the light side and the dark side. However, while there are heroes that are the pure embodiment of good, and others that are the definition of evil, Star Wars, like life, is rarely that simple.

Some of our favorite Star Wars characters have a little bit of mercenary in them but are ultimately heroes. And on the other side, even some of the most evil characters in the galaxy far, far away are completely without redeeming features. And others are just damn cool, whichever side they're on. Here's a look at our favorite characters in Star Wars, good and bad.

The Emperor

It’s not hard to put Emperor Palpatine on the extreme end of this list. Beyond the fact that he apparently had a child, which means somebody must have loved him, however, briefly, there are no redeeming qualities about the man. He played both sides in a galactic war that killed countless people to ensure his control. His only goal is domination of the galaxy, a goal that even exists beyond his death. 

Darth Maul 

Of all of Palpatine’s apprentices, one was clearly his best match. Darth Maul also survived his own death, only to use his second chance to focus on power and revenge. A truly vicious monster of a man with no light in his heart.  

General Hux 

General Hux is the worst. The man is clearly a true believer in the cause of the First Order. That alone makes him terrible. While he does technically turn on the First Order in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, giving information to the Resistance, he only does it because he hates Kylo Ren and wants to see him fail. He never wanted to do good, being a traitor was only a different form of his evil. Hux ultimately dies, but not as a hero.

Kylo Ren/Ben Solo 

While Kylo Ren does ultimately renounce the Dark Side and join Rey in her battle against the Emperor, he only does that after he has become Supreme Leader of the First Order. And he got that job by murdering his boss. He didn’t do it to save somebody’s life, he did it to gain power.  

Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader 

Darth Vader is often the symbol of the Dark Side when it comes to Star Wars, and yet, we know very well that there was more to him than that. He wasn’t always bad, and in the end, he chose his son over the Dark Side, but in between he never questioned his choices. There is real hate here. The tragedy of his story doesn't excuse it.

Lando Calrissian

There is pure evil, and then there’s simply choosing the most self-serving option, no matter how many people it hurts. Lando eventually joins the Rebel Alliance, but only after he forms a brief alliance with Darth Vader to sell out his friends on Cloud City. He did what he thought was best for his people, but a lot of people who make bad choices justify it to themselves that way. 

 Han Solo 

Han is a scoundrel with a heart of gold, but he is a scoundrel. Before joining up with Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia he worked for Jabba the Hutt transporting who knows what. He probably didn’t ask a lot of questions, and as long as the money showed up, that was fine with him.  

Jyn Erso 

Jyn Erso is a criminal who has broken a lot of laws, but those are the laws of the Empire, so if anything, it makes her more good. Still, it’s clear that during most of her life, Jyn has done whatever it took to survive, and she doesn’t have a problem if that means doing bad things. Her moral compass goes where it needs to.

 Poe Dameron 

Poe Dameron attempted a mutiny, which makes it clear that he has a dark streak in him. If he leaned a bit more toward being good he never would have considered what he did in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and he certainly couldn’t have acted on it. Still, he thought he was making the right call, and he was dedicated to the cause of freedom. 

Din Djardin 

Din Djardin belongs right in the middle of a list of good and bad characters in Star Wars because, for the most part, questions of good and evil don’t concern The Mandalorian. The first hero of the Disney+ Star Wars shows has no connection to the light side or the dark side. He’s a bounty hunter doing a job, nothing more, nothing less.

Luke Skywalker 

Luke Skywalker may be the main hero of the original Star Wars trilogy, but that doesn't mean he’s entirely pure of heart. Darth Vader and the Emperor attempt to turn him to the Dark Side, and what’s clear is that there is something in him that is attracted to that idea. He ultimately fights against it because he is good, but it’s a fight that continues for the rest of his life. He’s still battling it when trying to decide what to do about his nephew, Ben Solo, years later.

 Rey 

Like her mentor, Rey isn’t a purely good heroine. She’s lived most of her life alone, likely having to do what it takes to survive. She shows some curiosity about the Dark Side of the Force. She’s not afraid of it and ultimately uses some Dark Side powers to stop the First Order, and she nearly kills a friend in the process. That incident does seem to scare her straight.

Yoda 

Yoda is one of the all-time great Jedi masters. He is strong in the Force and he is dedicated to the light, fighting against the Dark Side. there’s no indication that he ever considered the power that comes with the Dark Side. but he does lie to Luke and manipulate him to get him to do what he thinks is right, so Yoda is perhaps not without his flaws and he's not pure of heart.  

Obi-Wan Kenobi 

Like Yoda, Obi-Wan intentionally avoids telling Luke the truth about Darth Vader. Not something a purely good person would do. But Obi-Wan Kenobi does dedicate his life to protecting the children of Anakin Skywalker, and he ultimately sacrifices himself to save his friends, a truly noble act. 

Ahsoka Tano 

Anakin Skywalker’s Padawan learned well from her master, and it seems she only learned the good he had to teach her. Ahsoka’s intentions seem to be as pure as her white lightsabers. While she chooses to leave the Jedi order, it’s not because she doesn’t believe in their ideals anymore. In fact, it’s because she believes in what the Jedi stand for so much, that she can’t be part of it when she feels the order is failing to live up to that standard.  

Chewbacca 

Anybody who hangs out with Han Solo and calls him a friend can’t be entirely pure of heart. Having said that, Chewbacca never does anything in the Star Wars movies to show us he is anything other than good. He’s clearly the major positive influence in Han’s life that pushes him to turn his life around. 

Qui-Gon Jinn 

If you watch the Star Wars movies in order, you'll meet one of the franchise's greatest heroes first. Nobody is more committed to the ideas of the Jedi order than Qui-Gon Jinn. He teaches Obi-Wan Kenobi how to be a Jedi with nobility and honor. His death in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace is especially tragic because, had he lived, it’s possible Anakin Skywalker would never have turned. 

Finn 

Finn may have grown up a Stormtrooper, but he was brainwashed and conditioned to be one. From the moment that he can make his own choices, he chooses to be better and to stand against the First Order. He values his friends and will do anything to protect them, including sacrificing his own life, which, luckily for his friends, he doesn’t have to do. 

 Princess Leia 

Maybe it was something genetic in being the daughter of Padme. Maybe it was in the way her parents on Alderaan raised her, but Leia Organa is purely dedicated to freedom and justice from the beginning of Star Wars: A New Hope until her death in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. She inspires so many to fight with her because she is so good. 

 Padme Amidala 

Padme Amidala isn’t a perfect person. Her greatest fault is that she refuses to accept Anakin’s descent into darkness until it is too late. But that fault comes from a woman who can’t see the evil because she is so purely good. Whether fighting injustice in the Senate, or with a blaster, Padme knows what is right, and she never sacrifices that belief to take the easy way out. She is the best of them all in Star Wars.

With many new upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows, there will certainly be many new characters for us to consider, and many more if we made this a longer list. Where would you put the cast of The Acolyte or Skeleton Crew? Will Daisy Ridley's return as Rey change her standing after the next film?

Animation is one of the earlier moving art forms, and has provided countless artists the means to bring their stories to life, be it through the black-and-white hues of Bosco the Talk-Ink Kid or the multicolored bliss of Fantasia. Toons can be as simple as the Oscar-winning “The Dot and the Line” from legends Chuck Jones and Maurice Noble, or they can be as endlessly complex as Wallace and Gromit’s stop-motion universe. Television has provided audiences with 80 years of memorable projects –- including some forgotten Saturday morning gems — with new shows debuting at a rapid pace, and we’re here to celebrate the very best animated series of all time.

From classic characters like Mickey Mouse and Fred Flintstone to modern favorites like Monkey D. Luffy and the Belcher family, CinemaBlend’s staff is saluting them all. So join us in paying tribute to the funniest, coolest, smartest, and most moving animated series that have graced our TV screens over the decades.

75. The Jetsons

Despite being the first show ABC ever broadcast in color, The Jetsons was canceled after a single season and only 24 total episodes. It just couldn’t find the right audience, at least until the reruns started airing on Saturday mornings and an entire generation of kids fell in love with the futuristic setting and zany plotlines. George, Jane, Judy, Elroy, Astro and Rosey eventually became so popular in syndication that more than 20 years after its cancellation, a further fifty-one episodes were produced, as well as a movie. It’s an unconventional success story but perhaps one fitting for a show filled with futuristic tech that hilariously never works as intended.

74. Aqua Teen Hunger Force

When Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim programming block premiered in September 2001, Aqua Teen Hunger Force was one of its surreal cornerstones, and it’s pretty much stayed that way ever since. The long-running series follows three anthropomorphic fast food items – Master Shake, Frylock, and Meatwad – who get into all kinds of trouble with their neighbor(s), locals, and interdimensional beings. ATHF helped usher in a new era for adult animation at the turn of the century, and it's remained just as hilarious and timeless during that historic run. But for as wild and nonsensical as it gets, there’s a certain charm that makes it not just one of the funniest shows on Adult Swim, but in all of TV animation.

73. Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends

Though not lauded quite as high as animation giants such as Walt Disney or Hanna-Barbera, Jay Ward delivered many of the medium’s most lasting creations, with The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle at the center of his zany, intelligent, and meta-before-meta-was-cool storytelling skills. The titular moose and squirrel’s serialized rivalry with the devious Boris and Natasha can never be forgotten, while the history-adoring side characters Sherman and his pup Mr. Peabody became a pop culture magnet unto themselves over the years. Now if only we could get a Fractured Fairy Tales spinoff for the 21st century…

72. What If...?

Upon its launch, part of the reason why a Disney+ subscription was so appealing involved the streaming service's new content directly connected to major IPs like the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And while we’ve been treated to a number of live-action shows, the studio also took a major risk with the multiversal animated series What If…? The comic book anthology series offers alternate realities to the MCU characters and events we know and love, and shows how the entire franchise could be radically altered if just one character's arc differed. Additionally, the voice cast of What…If? features many Marvel favorites reprising their roles to tell these ambitious stories that could never be produced in live-action.

71. The Proud Family

The Proud Family was all about Penny Proud and her wild, yet relatable, journey through high school. While the premise was simple, this show’s fabulous crew of characters is what made it iconic, and its depiction of the day-to-day lives of an African American family is what made it groundbreaking. From our lead Penny to her father Oscar, her besties Dijonay, Zoey, LaCienega and Sticky Webb — and of course Sugar Mama — this family is the best, and we’ll adore them forever.

70. Beavis and Butt-Head

Besides The Simpsons, arguably no animated series from the 1990s sparked a bigger array of multi-generational reactions around the country than Beavis and Butthead. As soon as it premiered on MTV in March 1993, Mike Judge’s groundbreaking, edgy, and unsavory cartoon became a national sensation while following two objectively moronic teenagers barely navigating school, life, nachos, and a carousel of music video commentary. Video games, movies, tons of merchandising (both official and bootleg) flooded the market in the years that followed, and there's a reason revivals keep happening: it's a great show, dammit. Mm-heh-heh.

69. Schoolhouse Rock!

Schoolhouse Rock! is an animated gem that has been passed down from generation to generation for all the right reasons. Originally debuting on TV back in 1973, the show's approach to combining educational programming with toon-filled songs cemented it as a true classic with more lasting value than most. From grammar-focused tunes like “Conjunction Junction" to the iconic intro-to-governmental-processes track “I’m Just a Bill” to even its Preamble song, Schoolhouse Rock! has had a lasting cultural impact, influencing many other shows, and even inspiring some spoofs along the way to its permanent place within pop culture.

68. Static Shock

The DC Animated Universe got a true shock to its system when Denys Cowan's Static Shock zapped onto TV screens in the early 2000s as a Saturday morning offering on Kids’ WB. Viewers were treated to some truly exciting, funny and heartfelt episodes that tracked the heroic exploits of teenager Virgil Hawkins in Dakota City. Thanks to late series creator Dwayne McDuffie and his talented team, Static Shock remains a dynamic piece of comic book fun, serving up some serious action mixed in with thoughtful social commentary on occasion. In short, this is a super-powered gem that’s rightfully still revered to this day.

67. Dexter's Laboratory

What child hasn't wished they had a secret location in their house that provided the means to do the most fantastic things their heart desires? Dexter’s Laboratory helped many youngins live vicariously through its titular brainiac, and the general hilarity of his meddling sister Dee Dee derailing it all helped make this one a definitive Cartoon Network classic. From the brain of the similarly brainy Genndy Tartakovsky, Dexter also boasted other animated shorts like Dial M For Monkey and The Justice Friends, which were all equally as enjoyable. To this day, I bet there are many who owe their ability to say “cheese omelet” in French to this wonderful series.

66. Kim Possible

“Call me, beep me, if you want to reach me,” because it’s time to talk about Kim Possible. Mixing a high-stakes spy drama with high school shenanigans appropriate for Disney Channel-aged audiences, this show is an action-packed good time. Largely centered on Kim’s missions to take down Dr. Drakken and Shego with the help (or more like attempted help) of her bestie Ron Stoppable and his naked molerat Rufus, Kim Possible defined many childhoods and taught generations of kids, and specifically girls, that anything is possible with the right mindset and gadgets.

65. Muppet Babies (1984)

How amazing are Jim Henson’s Muppets? The list goes on, but one key factor would be that Kermit and the gang brought to life what remains one of pop culture’s only genuinely great examples of “Your favorite characters, but they’re babies.” Trading TV studios and New York City exteriors for a Nanny-run nursery where the power of make-believe knows no bounds, Muppet Babies showed viewers of all ages that imagination is powered best when one is surrounded by friends to the end. Unfortunately for avid fans, the show’s abundant use of licensed TV, film, and music clips will likely keep it from ever hitting home media.

64. Family Guy

For one reason or 69 others — get it, Peter? — certain TV shows are able to get away with wildly edgy content without getting “canceled," either literally or figuratively. Granted, Seth MacFarlane's long-running fave Family Guy actually did actually get canceled by Fox back in 2002, but the '80s-adoring comedy was able to return from its shallow grave just two years later due to extraordinary DVD sales, a hit syndicated run, and the embrace of Adult Swim. and high ratings from reruns in syndication. Ever since that 2004 revival, viewers have followed the antics of Peter, Lois, Chris, Meg, Stewie and Brian along with all the ridiculous and often offensive cutaway flashbacks that fill their lives.

63. Robot Chicken 

Watching Robot Chicken calls to mind many chldhood memories of inventing scenarios with action figures modeled after classic movie and TV characters. That's essentially what Seth Green and Matthew Senreich’s stop-motion animated Adult Swim hit is: people playing with their toys. But with a bigger budget and more talented voice actors than any kids I ever played with. With boundary-pushing and insightful humor in the mix, the Emmy-winning Robot Chicken is sketch comedy at its most refreshingly unique, rebelliously raw, and deliciously nostalgic, and is not bogged down by the limitations that might come with a live-action production.

62. The Flintstones

For many people, The Flintstones is one of the first cartoons we remember watching on TV. This classic Hanna-Barbera series about a lovable caveman and his family navigating a prehistoric world field with outrageous stone-age variations of modern-day appliances and tools, is just as funny and attention-grabbing as it was upon its release more than 60 years ago, which is really saying something about its quality. On top of such indelible characters like Fred Flinstone, Barney Rubble, and the Great Gazoo, the show also has one of the most iconic opening themes of all time.

61. Freakazoid!

Though not the most marquee-ready superhero, Freakazoid!’s titular protagonist is the creation of Batman: The Animated Series legends Bruce Timm and Paul Dini, with Steven Spielberg and Tiny Toons vet Paul Ruegger leading the charge. So yeah, it’s a perfectly bonkers mix of comic book mythos mixed with slapstick and fourth-wall-breaking comedy, complete with a mini-universe of B-tier heroes and villains such as Candle Jack (but don’t say his name). Lasting two seasons from 1995-1997, Freakazoid! ss a joy for viewers of all ages, anchored by the stellar voice work of stars Paul Rugg and Ed Asner.

60. Chip 'n' Dale: Rescue Rangers

Long before the series was reimagined as a hilarious Disney+ movie starring John Mulaney and Andy Sandberg, Chip 'n' Dale: Rescue Rangers started out as a tremendous and timeless action-adventure toon about a pair of chipmunks fronting a crew of anthropomorphic animals. Thanks in part to that earworm theme, it never gets old watching Chip, Dale, Gadget Hackwrench, Monterey Jack, and Zipper solve all manner of crimes (both big and small, really small) and save the day before the end of each episode, and the show can still hold the attention of our kids all these years later.

59. Teen Titans

Some viewers probably weren’t sure what to make of Teen Titans upon its debut, but the series eventually became a hit – and for good reason. The quirky superhero romp is the definition of cartoon greatness, as it skillfully blends action and comedy, ultimately using both to great effect. Yet, most importantly, so much heart is on display amidst the explosions and sheer wackiness as well. Because of that, Robin, Cyborg, Starfire, Beast Boy and Raven remain not only one of DC’s best TV super teams, but also one of its greatest familial units. And, yes, that theme song still slaps.

58. Gargoyles

The oft-underrated Saturday morning toon Gargoyles is one of those shows that manages to deliver more than the kind of action you’d expect from Disney's weekly animated fare. It’s a dark and complex drama series with dynamic characters, beautiful animation and stories that sometimes border on Greek tragedy. Many viewers understandably still have such reverence for the tales that EP Greg Weisman and his team told about the mighty Goliath and his clan of night guardians. It’s ironic that a group of beings that turn cold as stone are among some of the warmest heroes to ever grace a TV screen.

57. DuckTales

Having quite possibly the catchiest theme song on this list that's chock-full of them is probably enough reason to include DuckTales on this list, but of course, the show has so much more going for it. Scrooge McDuck and his nephews, previously only bit players in Disney cartoons, earned the star spotlight for a show that was about as close to an action/adventure cartoon as Disney had delivered at the time, making it something fresh new, and exciting. But it was still “Disney” and thus more accessible to younger viewers than other ‘80s cartoons looking to sell action figures, drawing from Carl Banks' timeless comic run.

56. Hey Arnold!

Amidst all of Nickelodeon's best chracters, perhaps no greater role model for younger viewers exists than the football-headed protagonist of Hey Arnold! In fact, Craig Bartlett’s series offered something very few animated programs have (then or since): a diverse ensemble whom kids could potentially relate to or aspire to be like. With a stunningly grounded urban aesthetic, even in its most peculiar momens, and a hefty set of valuable life lessons that often came out of dark situations, admittedly — not to mention an absolute banger of a jazz score — Hey Arnold! is a masterstroke for the medium.

55. The Real Ghostbusters

1984's Ghostbusters inspired an immediate sequel, but when live-action follow-ups stalled, Sony did the next best thing: created this magnificent riff on the beloved property. No, they couldn’t get BIll Murray and Dan Aykroyd together every three years, but they could animate Peter, Ray, Winston and Egon for a series of animated adventures around New York City, the world, and even realms beyond. The best part about The Real Ghostbusters is that it understood the irreverent tone of Ivan Reitman’s two movies, but split the difference to also appeal directly to kids who just wanted to see Slimer. When we really need a hit of that nostalgic rush, these are the Ghostbusters stories that most deserve revisiting.

54. Teen Titans Go

DC Comics adaptations often get knocked for being too serious, but that's not the case with Teen Titans Go, an effervescent, energetic, and rapid-fire funny series centered on Robin, Cyborg, Beast Boy, Raven, and Starfire. The show embraced irreverent humor, leaning hard into its heroes' stereotypical behaviors, from Robin’s crippling need to be a leader to Raven’s broody Goth Girl energy and beyond. Without hinging on continuity or major cameos from A-list DC heroes (at least, not until Teen Titans Go! To The Movies, which was equally excellent), this slap-happy toon basically gave young kids a comic book portal where they could enjoy “waffles, waffles, waffles” without having to brood over anyone's parents getting gunned down in an alley.

53. The Powerpuff Girls

Sugar, spice, and everything nice wasn’t even half of what we got with The Powerpuff Girls. Like many other animated classics, it was a show made for kids that adults could easily also enjoy. The superpowered Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup deal with typical childhood troubles like sibling rivalry and bed wetting while also saving their town from a truly ingenious rogue’s gallery. These endearing kindergartners, their friends and foes (like arch nemesis Mojo Jojo, and Powerpuff wanna-be Princess Morbucks) provide us with laughs, lessons and intrigue, all wrapped in a parody and pop-culture focused package that doles out plenty of surprises.

52. Tiny Toon Adventures

Following in the footsteps of the iconic Looney Tunes squad was always going to be a tall order, but the Stephen Spielbeg-produced Tiny Toon Adventures understood the assignment. While the characters may have been inspired by those that came before, each one from Babs and Buster to Plucky and Hampton, was given just as much freedom to be entirely new characters, not simply the “new versions” of the classics. The humor was always on point, with plenty of gags for younger viewers, alongside references only the older “kids” watching would get.

51. Courage the Cowardly Dog

Making a cartoon for children that's as creepy as it is funny is no easy task, but Courage the Cowardly Dog found a way to execute that balance quite beautifully, relying mostly on overtly bizarre and/or paranormal villains. Courage protecting his owners, Eustace and Muriel, against everything from a cursed mummy to a duck with a mallet never gets old. It’s the most deserving Cartoon Network original that needs a revival, which could potentially still happen someday, considering Courage was part of a Scooby-Doo crossover movie released in 2021. Until that day comes, fans can revisit the entire series with a Max subscription.

50. Adventure Time

Most classic adventure cartoons engage in storytelling in a more earnest manner, but only a few effectively capture the joys of make-believe like Adventure Time — which for many is the absolute cream of the crop for Cartoon Network’s original programming. Creator Pendleton Ward’s fantasy-comedy follows Finn the Human (Jeremy Shada) and Jake the Dog (John DiMaggio) as they navigate the weird and wonderful, post-apocalyptic Land of Ooo, having a mathematical time along the way. With its charming animation, ingenious creatures, clever world-building, and a lighthearted tone that never abandons spellbinding excitement, the fun truly never ends.

49. Big Mouth

It’s not every day that audiences get a hilariously offensive animated show that actually provides accurate representation of growing up LGBTQ+. On the surface, Netflix's Big Mouth, which rocks an all-star cast led by co-creator Nick Kroll and John Mulaney, simply shows the trouble and turmoil of puberty, sexuality, hormones, and the everyday struggle that we call “life.” Lucky for viewers, it is also much, much more than that. The show follows a group of young people who tend to be accompanied by “hormone monsters” (who now have their own wacky spinoff series) who help guide them through the changes and struggles that come with growing up.

48. Arthur

Kids owe PBS for so many great animated series, but Arthur might be its crown jewel. For over 20 years, Marc Brown’s storybook aardvark, along with his friends and family, endeared themselves to the public. The author and the show’s writing staff, through their efforts, taught youngsters firm lessons in responsibility, community, empathy and much more. What’s particularly impressive is that the grade-school comedy managed to remain consistent in conveying such morals during its lengthy run. Of course, when the program wasn’t dropping vital nuggets of knowledge, it was simply exuding pure, imaginative fun. What we have here is a truly timeless show, and one that’s sure to delight audiences for generations to come.

47. Pokémon

Part of the reason Pokémon remains one of the top franchises worldwide is because the series can have a different meaning for every generation that consumes it. The kids of 2024 can watch the same show O.G. viewers watched in the late '90s and appreciate those characters in new ways, given there have been plenty of successive projects that have come loaded with over a thousand different Pokémon for children to latch onto and make their favorite. The show's awesome battles haven't quite held up when it comes to the franchise's many video games, but perhaps someday, Game Freak will give the people what they want.

46. Spider-Man

Spider-Man fandom has been known to grow from many sources, including the comics and multiple generations of live-action blockbusters, but the Spider-Man animated series from 1994 holds a special place in the hearts of millennials – as it should, because it is amazing (pun totally intended). In retrospect, the content censorship is ridiculous (this is a show where Spidey wasn’t even allowed to punch people), but the filmmakers still found ways to deliver exciting adaptations of comic book stories, and some episodes are even better than the source material. We have yet to see a better version of the Venom origin story than what was created here.

45. Batman: The Brave and the Bold

Thanks in large part to the success of Tim Burton’s Batman from 1989, it was at one point decided that the best version of the Caped Crusader is the dark and brooding version. That has now been the go-to mode for the superhero for decades – but at the very least Batman: The Brave And The Bold reminded us for a time just how much fun the Dark Knight can be. The deep voice and silly sensibilities of Diedrich Bader make him one of the best to ever play the hero, and every episode delivers a fun team-up opportunity. Every DC character is represented with love, but there’s an argument to be made that John DiMaggio's Aquaman is the all-time best version of the Atlantean king.

44. Doug

The entire Nicktoons library was a big deal for '90s kids, and who was more relatable than Doug Funnie on Doug? Through his journal entries and soaring imagination, the preteen opened up about the seemingly everyday events of his life, from getting a haircut to trying liver and onions, and we totally felt that. We understood the middle school awkwardness, the anguish of his crush on Patti Mayonnaise and just how good it felt to rock out to your favorite band (The Beets, of course! “Aw-wee-oo! Killer tofuuuuu!”). We wanted Skeeter to be our best friend and a dog as cool as Porkchop. Not to mention, the opening credits and theme song are pretty iconic.

43. Pinky and the Brain

Let’s be honest here: Pinky and the Brain was repetitive. In every episode, the two main characters did “the same thing we do every night, Pinky… try to take over the world!” But it was the way that the odd couple mice played off of each other — with Pinky being the doofus assistant to the Orson Welles-inspired mastermind mouse that is The Brain — that allowed this Animaniacs episode segment to thrive as its own standalone series. It's one we still quote to this day, using many of the cast members’ favorite jokes. Like everything in Animaniacs, Pinky and the Brain benefitted from an “anything goes” approach to humor, meaning that stories would involve Brain’s archnemesis (a hamster named Snowball) or a bit where Pinky gets elected President of the United States. And it all worked because the creators understood how to be intelligent while also being goofy.

42. X-Men: The Animated Series

Before the Marvel Cinematic Universe revitalized how big and connected comic book adaptations could be, few film and TV examples truly brought to live what people loved about the medium. X-Men: The Animated Series was one of the first, giving audiences comic book-accurate versions of the beloved mutants that felt like they jumped right off the page. The show offered long-term serializing storytelling just like the source material, something that was essentially unheard of for a Saturday morning cartoon. But whether one was an avid reader or not, these were (and perhaps still are) the definitive versions of the X-Men. It’s no wonder that decades later, the series was revived as X-Men '97.

41. Infinity Train

Created by Regular Show writer/artist Owen Dennis, the Cartoon Network-turned-Max series Infinity Train is the crown jewel of overlooked and under-discussed animated series. A highly imaginative coming-of-age sci-fi fantasy,  not the most common sub-genre, the series centers on a different interconnected story and character set in each of its four seasons, with everything taking place on a mysterious and impossibly long train where most cars present challenges for the characters to figure out and overcome. It’s an emotionally gripping and exciting tale that never goes off the rails, with a stacked cast of familiar voices.

40. Futurama

The second mega-hit series created in part by Matt Groening, Futurama has always been far more than just The Future Simpsons, thanks to its unforgettable cast of meme-ready nutjobs, egomaniacs, and bending-proficient robots. From Fry’s dopey optimism to The Professor’s absent-minded genius to Hermes’ ability to drop everything if a limbo stick comes around, the series balances its strong personalities with tons of space-faring, paradox-thwarting, time-traveling mayhem that never stops being fun. Both one of the smartest and silliest animated series of all time, and filled with some of the nerdiest jokes possible, Futurama has remained a beloved small-screen entity in part because the Planet Express crew has managed to survive multiple cancellations at Fox and Comedy Central, reaching its third lifeform at Hulu, presumably because the Hypnotoad demanded it so.

39. Mickey Mouse (Classic Disney Shorts)

There are few animated characters more famous than Mickey Mouse, and it’s safe to say the House of Mouse wouldn’t be everything it is today without Disney’s classic Mickey Mouse animated shorts that debuted in the 1920s. Smartly written and brimming with slapstick comedy, these quick hits of quirky fun introduced us to the loveable mouse — who displayed courage and strength but in a way that was achievable for any of us — along with the equally iconic Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Pluto and Goofy. Included in this series is 1935’s “The Band Concert” — Disney’s first color cartoon, which quite literally paved the way for Disney animation for 100 years and counting. And while it may not be part of that exact era, give me Goofy bungling up ski lessons any day.

38. Dragon Ball Z

Though it wasn’t the first show in the franchise, Dragon Ball Z introduced countless kids and teenagers to iconic characters like Goku, Piccolo, Vegeta, and Gohan throughout the ‘90s, especially after the anime series became a mainstay in Cartoon Network’s Toonami afternoon block. This intense cartoon about a group known as the Z Fighters who attempt to protect Earth (and later, other planets) from diabolical forces was something many of us ran home from school or off the bus to catch each weekday. The introduction of increasingly dangerous and destructive villains like Frieza, Cell, and Boo (each had their own saga) continued to raise the bar as the series went on, and make this still a gem worth revisiting.

37. Rocko's Modern Life

Is there a classic Nickelodeon show from the ‘90s that captures the spirit of the era more than Rocko’s Modern Life? This zany, surreal, and extraordinary animated series debuted in 1993 and quickly found an audience thanks to its unique style of humor that appealed to both children and adults. With characters like the neurotic titular wallaby, his best friends Heffer Wolfe and Filburt, and the various members of the Bighead family, there was so much to love about the show. It pushed the envelope with its humor and art direction and had a lot to say about the modern world, hence its name. The mammalian gang even returned to fans in 2019 with the special Static Cling.

36. Animaniacs

We still have no idea how Animaniacs creator Tom Ruegger got the greenlight to make everyone's childhood better with this hilarious, clever, but extremely inside-baseball showbiz comedy aimed at mature kids. Yes, on the surface, the Animaniacs works as a variety show, an evolution off The Muppet Show during which the hosts – the Warner siblings, one with a Liverpool accent – would set up individual cartoons. But in between, the banter and humor offered up in Animaniacs consisted of some of the funniest, most outrageous, and unpredictable jokes that would spoof Dolly Parton, Marilyn Monroe, and the idea of fingering Prince, as it were. Sometimes the show managed to be educational, but mostly it was pure lunacy, and we loved every second of it.

35. Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!

Mysteries are the most entertaining genre of storytelling. What’s more satisfying than a tidy reveal at the end of a whodunit, and a villain exclaiming how they would have gotten away with it, if not for those meddling kids? Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? followed a very popular “monster of the week” format, but wasn’t afraid to push the envelope to freak out little kids who tuned into a cartoon and were terrified by haunted suits of armor, killer clowns, and more. From its unforgettable theme song to the vocal contributions of radio icon Casey Kasem as Shaggy, Scooby-Doo Where Are You? walked so that Goosebumps and Gravity Falls could run.

34. Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated

Scooby-Doo: Mystery Incorporated is a breath of fresh air within the long-running franchise birthed by Hanna-Barbera. For this particular production, the typical case-of-the-week format isn’t in play, as serialized storytelling is utilized. It’s a great approach that really fleshes out the meddling kids and the titular canine in a way that past incarnations don’t. The humor associated with this entertainment property is definitely employed in this iteration. However, what’s also exciting is how the writers and artists aim to deliver some truly scary monsters, all seemingly tied to the antagonist Mr. E. While it’s admirable that the show sticks to its predecessors’ roots in many ways, its goal to shake up the classic formula results in an overarching mystery that’s both compelling and creepy.

33. Archer

Creator Adam Reed’s singular vision and undying creativity turned Archer from a ribald spin on James Bond into one of the most well-rounded pieces of spy fiction in existence. H. Jon Benjamin’s unmistakable voice gives life to the booze-swilling agent’s snappy insults and TV-MA euphemisms alongside a downright stellar cast that also includes Aisha Tyler, Judy Greer, Jessica Walter, Chris Parnell and more. The series is a testament to the importance of characters compared to plot, with Archer’s core group shifting from years of traditional storytelling to multiple side-mission seasons such as the Miami-set Vice, the subconscious-set Dreamland, the jungle-filled Danger Island and others. On a jokes-per-minute basis, it stands next to comedy giants like The Simpsons and Airplane!, and can drink them both under the table.

32. Batman Beyond

Debuting in 1999, Batman Beyond jumps decades forward into the future and showcases the story of a now-retired Bruce Wayne who is acting as a mentor to the next generation Dark Knight, Terry McGinnis, as voiced by the legend himself, Kevin Conroy. The show earned multiple award nominations, winning two Daytime Emmy Awards. Bruce and Terry have just enough similarities and frustrating differences to keep their dynamic captivating while still wholesome, which makes this particular animated series one of the most enjoyable to watch in the franchise. Terry is forced to work twice as hard in order to balance out both his personal life and his crime-fighting side persona, as he both learns from and teaches his mentor as they both work to stand up for what they both clearly believe in.

31. Star Wars: The Clone Wars

While a lot is owed to Genndy Tartakovsky’s Star Wars: Clone Wars, the animated side of George Lucas’ sci-fi universe truly took off in 2008 with the launch of Cartoon Network's Star Wars: The Clone Wars. The series is, in large part, what it is due to franchise guru Dave Filoni, who thought his hiring was a prank. Filoni’s respect for Lucas’ work permeates the entire CGI show, but there are also some cool elements that he himself adds to the canon, including the now-beloved Jedi Ahsoka Tano. With incredible storylines, sweet animation and strong voice acting, this show works well on its own but also stands firmly alongside the films it builds upon.

30. Bob's Burgers

One of the many things to love about Bob’s Burgers is just how close, loving, and, well, lovingly strange the main characters at the center of the show are. The Belcher family is (mostly) committed to keeping their small, family-run burger shop up and running, but their kooky adventures usually take the whole family away from the restaurant. Exasperated pessimist Bob, his happy-go-lucky wife Linda and their kids, Tina, Gene and Louise get into a number of hilariously weird scrapes that, honestly, most of us only wish we could have to make life more intriguing. Add to that Louise’s near-constant scheming, Tina’s awkwardness, and how the whole family interacts with a town full of endearing oddballs, and you have yourself a wonderfully weird winner. Tell 'em Teddy sent ya.

29. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was the perfect show for a perfect moment in time. It combined outrageous and over the top late 80s imagery with some of the first mainstream depictions of skater culture and added ninjas, an outrageous backstory and a steady stream of cheesy catchphrases. Deep in the sewer of our hearts, amidst roundhouse kicks and impossibly yellow April O’Neil jumpsuits, they carved out a place for themselves, and more than thirty years later, their ooze still remains in the form of reimagined shows, new movies and billions of dollars worth of merchandise. And despite all the success, they're still just heroes in a half-shell, and they're green. (Hey, get a grip.)

28. SpongeBob SquarePants (1999-Present)

In 1999, if you told someone a silly gap-toothed sponge would one day be as recognizable to the children of the world as Mickey Mouse or Bugs Bunny, they would’ve laughed. And yet, SpongeBob SquarePants continues to entertain the children of today, and has been lovingly embraced by the Millenials and Gen-Z who grew up with it as well. The internet is loaded with memes dedicated to the franchise, and there’s still plenty of debate as to what is in a Krabby Patty. With plenty of episodes and even some spinoffs, it feels like SpongeBob and friends will be entertaining children for many years to come.

27. Rugrats (1991)

Rugrats premiered in 1991 on Nickelodeon as one of the first three Nicktoons, aimed at a younger audience than Doug and The Ren & Stimpy Show. It was a staple for kids throughout the ‘90s and into the early 2000s, with nine seasons about the adventures of babies Tommy, Chuckie, Phil, and Lil, with regular appearances from characters like the parents, Angelica, and (eventually) Dil. The show could swing from silly to serious, with memorable episodes that ranged from covering the grief of losing a parent to the spectacular Reptar On Ice, with a dinosaur love song that still rings in the hearts of plenty of ‘90s kids. There’s a reason why this Nicktoon show went on to inspire Rugrats movies and a 2021 reboot.

26. Harley Quinn

What happens when you blend DC Comics mythology with the kind of crass adult comedy you find in shows like Family Guy and South Park? You get Harley Quinn, which follows Kaley Cuoco’s version of The Joker’s former squeeze going on adventures with Lake Bell’s Poison Ivy, her best-friend-turned-girlfriend, and getting into hijinks with fellow supervillains and superheroes alike. One doesn’t need to be a hardcore DC fan to appreciate Harley Quinn, although that definitely helps with catching the deep-cut references and Easter eggs. As long as you're in the mood for clever writing and all the edgy, not-safe-for-kids humor you could ask for, Harley Quinn is a must-[censored]-watch.

25. Gravity Falls

With hands on our bible of beasts, baubles and bafflement — Journal 3, naturally — we can solemnly swear that Gravity Falls is the weirdest, wildest and gobblewonkiest project that’s ever come out of Disney, bursting through the castle doors like rainbows from a gnome’s mouth. Created by Alex Hirsch, the mystery-hinged funfest centers on a pair of siblings, Jason Ritter’s Dipper and Kristen Schaal’s Mabel, living with their kooky and perhaps unstable great uncle, Grunkle Stan (voiced by Hirsch). And for anyone who loves codes, hidden messages, deep lore, crytozoology, conspiracies, and everything sharing that fringe space, Gravity Falls is the holy grail of animated shows. (And that grail is filled with Pitt Cola.)

Despite nearly universal love and acclaim, Disney cut Gravity Falls’ run short at just two seasons, although the actual supplementary Journal 3 (which Hirsch co-wrote) is expansive and unique enough of an experience to at least count as a one-off special. There’s still hope that fans will one day go on more adventures in the Mystery Shack with Soos, assuming Bill Cipher doesn’t muck anything up, but even if these 40 episodes are all that ever get produced, it was perfection.

24. The Boondocks

Aaron McGruder’s adaptation of his own comic strip, The Boondocks, is a must-watch for those trying to better understand racial relations, culture, and racism in the United States. With the help of some voice acting from Regina King, Riley and his brother Huey navigate the Black experience of living in a predominantly white suburb.

The Boondocks thrived on taking hot-button issues and forcing the viewer to think about not just the issue but their own reaction and perspective of that issue. The Boondocks deserves applause for how it pushed the envelope in its four seasons and offered thoughtful commentary in a way few other animated shows can.

23. Justice League

Superheroes joining forces in the DC Animated Universe wasn’t anything new prior to 2001 thanks to special pairings in Superman: The Animated Series and Batman Beyond’s “The Call” two-parter, but Justice League placed teamwork front and center. Viewers watched Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter and Hawkgirl vanquish terrestrial, alien and magical threats together, and it was a blast.

Justice League continues to be appreciated for its crisp animation, mature storytelling and stellar character development, as well as for transforming John Stewart from a B-list character to the definitive Green Lantern for a generation. Justice League makes an effective crash course for those wanting to dive into DC lore without having read any of the comics.

22. Star Trek: Lower Decks

Being such a well known and praised franchise for decades, die-hard fans were quite surprised when it was announced back in 2019 that the Star Trek franchise would be taking a shot at an adult comedy with a brand new animated show, Star Trek: Lower Decks. Written by Rick and Morty’s Mike McMahan, the show takes place in the 24th century and instead of focusing on the high-ranking officers on the Bridge Crew, it gives viewers a glimpse into the “lower deck” officers with the more humble jobs that keep the ship running…smoothly? The show often references the rest of the Star Trek earlier entries and breaks down sci-fi tropes, often in a very NSFW way, and should delight both seasoned and new fans alike.

21. Sailor Moon

If you’re of a certain age, Sailor Moon may be the first anime you ever saw in your entire life. It’s one of those ‘90s anime that was sandwiched between Fist of the North Star in the ‘80s, and the explosion that was Dragon Ball Z, and Pokemon in the later ‘90s. Even so, Sailor Moon still managed to stand out, and it still stands out today. It may be because Serena (or Usagi, if you prefer sub over dub) is so dang loveable. As is her relationship with Darien (AKA, Tuxedo Mask).

And of course, we can’t forget the many other Sailor Scouts, as they all have their own unique personalities and inner worlds. In truth, Sailor Moon is the kind of cartoon that appeals to both young girls, but also grown men in their ‘30s and ‘40s, and really, we wouldn’t have it any other way.

20. One Piece

Shows like One Piece don’t come along often, and really, we’re not sure there is any other show on television that’s like it. It’s one thing to have an astronomically high episode count, but quite another for that story to be serialized and tell a great story of a pirate adventure that’s been wowing viewers for over two decades. The character development and growth of the Straw Hat Pirates and the world-building it boasts makes this an easy choice for top-tier anime, and it’s great that Netflix finally took notice and made an equally enjoyable live-action series.

It’s a modern-day epic story equatable to Gilgamesh or Beowulf, and feels like a lived-in universe more than any other anime out there. It’s totally worth the time investment for those who feel overwhelmed by tackling the 1000+ episodes of this ongoing series.

19. The Critic

The Critic, which revolves around New York film critic, Jay Sherman (voiced by A League of Their Own’s Jon Lovitz) sometimes hits way too close to home. What we mean is, with many of us being critics ourselves, a lot of Jay’s fussy qualms about movies seem super spot on, such as the eye roll he gave to the made-up movie, Beverly Hills RoboCanine Cop and a Half 2 (Starring Clint Eastwood!).

But that’s just the beauty of The Critic, because even though Jay was often fed up with having to review so many mediocre movies, he still loved his job, and stayed a movie fan to his core. Which, again, hits very close to home. Plus, it didn’t hurt that the series had The Simpsons writers, Al Jean and Mike Reiss as showrunners. It stinks!...that we don’t have any new episodes of The Critic to watch these days.

18. Daria

Daria once described herself to a therapist as actively working to make people dislike her. She’s not wrong. Daria's main character is, at times, deeply unlikeable. She speaks as if she’s a detached observer into her own life, making callous observations in a dry, dispassionate voice. She’s like a real life narrator, condescendingly commenting on the world around her as everyone else plays volleyball and talks about who they’re going to prom with.

Despite all her efforts, however, it’s impossible to hate Daria because she’s really funny and also not wrong most of the time. High school is often pretty stupid and populated with try-hards who don’t know themselves or have any idea where they’re going. Listening to Daria judge them feels like therapy, even if, deep down, we know she’s just as lost as they are.

17. Over The Garden Wall

What’s most impressive about Over The Garden Wall is just how effectively it slips under your skin and rattles you. The familiar sibling dynamic between Wirt (Elijah Wood) and his little brother Greg (Collin Dean) is disarming, as are the fantasy elements and talking animals… but never forgotten is the terror that comes from the show’s central premise: two boys getting lost in the woods and trying to find their way home. Each chapter starts with a light touch, but ends up gripping you by the throat and invading your nightmares.

The episodes brim with fantastic and horrific imagination - from the shadowy beasts that lead souls astray to the disturbing Auntie Whispers (voiced brilliantly by John Cleese). There are only 10 episodes and none of them run over 12 minutes, but Over The Wall leaves a deep impression, and it’s wonderful to revisit annually during Spooky Season.

16. King of the Hill

I tell you what, it’s hard to get better than King of the Hill. The long-running hit (which has a Mike Judge-led revival coming to Hulu soon), focused on Hank, Peggy and their son Bobby Hill, and their day to day life in the small town of Arlen, Texas. This slice-of-life animated show used something a lot of people probably take for granted - the absurdities of relationships, work, growing up, marriage and other aspects of daily life - turned them up to 11 and made every episode across 13 seasons feel like we were laughing at our own friends and family.

Don’t we all know at least one person obsessed with lawn care? Or one boy who ain’t right? If not, you’ll certainly wish you knew the residents of Rainey Street and could call them neighbors, because mundane, working class life has never looked like so much looney fun.

15. Mickey Mouse (2013 shorts)

Mickey Mouse is one of the most iconic characters in the history of animation. He’s been everywhere and done everything. What made the new series of shorts that began in 2013 and ended in 2023 special wasn’t that they did anything differently, (though certainly the visual style was completely new for the character) it was that they went back to the beginning and let Mickey be the Mickey he was always designed to be.

The modern run of shorts, simple called Mickey Mouse, let the big-eared protagonist be the hero, but they also let him be silly, angry, surprising, and ridiculous. They pack more gags into a five-minute short than would seem possible. The shorts were new, but also served as throwbacks to earlier Mickey eras when the character had more creative freedom before he became the icon we know. They were a breath of fresh air after decades of a stagnant and sterilized mouse.

14. The Legend Of Korra

There is sometimes debate on whether Avatar: The Last Airbender or its follow-up series, The Legend of Korra, is the better cartoon. But, when it comes to us, all we have to say is, why not both? Because honestly, you can’t lose with either series. That said, The Legend of Korra definitely is special in its own right. This is a more grown-up take on the world of Avatar, where each season introduces a new threat to our heroine, Korra (Voiced by the magnificent Janet Varney).

With each season, however, we see Korra adapt and change in ways that Aang never got to do, which is enhanced by Korra’s fantastic Team Avatar of Bolin, Mako, and of course, Asami. Oh, and speaking of Asami, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention how groundbreaking this show was, as Korrasami is still one of our favorite TV couples of all time.

13. South Park

Possibly the most controversial animated show of all time, South Park. With 26 seasons under their belt, Trey Parker and Matt Stones’ on Comedy Central follows the story of four young boys and the typically pop-culture chaos that surrounds them. The show’s intro blatantly states that the show “...should not be viewed by anyone.” South Park pulls no punches and gives no f’s. T

The creators have pulled some crazy stunts in the past, like attending the 2000 Oscars while being nominated, wearing dresses, and high on LSD. They have also attempted to get their own show canceled, been banned in China, as well as hitting a television milestone by going “bleep-free” with the use of the “f-bomb” live on air. It’s a show that could not be launched today, but since it has such huge weight in the zeitgeist, expect to see some more offensive Colorado antics for some time.

12. Star Wars Rebels

Star Wars Rebels picked up the action set in the galaxy far, far away after The Clone Wars ended, and the animated series ran from 2014-2018 on Disney XD to expand on the era ahead of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story with a found family of original characters. Not only did the show prove that Star Wars doesn’t need to rely on legacy characters like Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker to tell a fantastic story and deliver arguably one of the best deaths in the franchise’s history, but it set up some stellar stories that are being expanded in live-action with Ahsoka.

There was no certainty that Rebels would succeed back in the beginning despite the popularity of The Clone Wars, but the story was solid during its original run and stands the test of time for first-time watchers and re-watchers alike. And its characters, ships and plots have remained core to the universe even beyond its conclusion.

11. Invincible

Invincible was released for those with an Amazon Prime subscription during the height of superhero mania. Despite concerns about superhero fatigue, the animated series carved stands out within the genre. Namely by being the animated answer to The Boys, and being an R-rated and wildly violent cartoon show. Invincible focuses on the title character aka Mark Grayson who is a young person coming into his own as a wildly popular hero who boasts the same powers, if not the same prowess, as his father Omni- Man, who is revealed to be something quite a bit more dangerous than anyone readily expected.

Adapted rather faithfully from Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker's comic book, the story is emotional, the action sequences are bloody and brutal, and Invincible’s voice cast is led by A-list talent like Steven Yeun, J.K. Simmons, Sandra Oh, and more. And the show is so popular that Omni-Man spawned a character in Mortal Kombat 1.

10. Justice League Unlimited

Everything that was great about Justice League got ratcheted up a notch with Justice League Unlimited. Thanks to the team’s founding heroes expanding its ranks — minus Hawkgirl, who returned later in Season 1 — this continuation allowed the DC Animated Universe to shine the spotlight on even lesser-known heroes, from Green Arrow and The Question to Booster Gold and Huntress. Like its predecessor, the show wholeheartedly embraced its printed page while also putting unique spins on its starring protagonists and antagonists.

Although there were various standalone episodes peppered throughout Justice League Unlimited, the show was at its best when delving into its serialized stories that built off plot threads from the previous DC Animated Universe shows, namely the Cadmus and Secret Society arcs. That makes Unlimited arguably feel like the most comic book-y entry in this shared continuity. While the DCAU would be revisited a handful of other times following the show’s conclusion, Unlimited definitely marked the end of an era, and it stuck the landing wonderfully.

9. Phineas and Ferb

The concept of two brothers spending their summer vacation trying to figure out a way to spend it comes with endless possibilities, and Phineas and Ferb explored them creatively and expertly. Following a formula where every episode the titular characters are always finding an over-the-top thing to do or build. Meanwhile, their sister Candace tries to bust them while their pet platypus Perry goes on a mission to stop his nemesis Dr. Doofenshmirtz and his latest -enator.

Over the years, Phineas and Ferb mastered its formula and had a blast with it. Watching the brothers build a roller-coaster, create a backyard beach, get their parents' favorite band back together and oh so much more was not only fun but creatively invigorating. Not to mention, many episodes also featured incredible original music – like the Emmy-nominated song “Ain’t Got Rhythm” – meaning you’ll be humming along and thinking about this show long after the episode ends.

8. Looney Tunes

To describe Looney Tunes as a classic is completely appropriate, and yet, somehow not quite enough. This collection of animated shorts (produced from 1930 to 1969 and then revived in the late 1970s) has provided generations of audiences with wacky adventures featuring some of the most recognizable and quotable cartoon characters ever created. Even if you’ve only seen a handful of the many, many cartoons made by Warner Bros., you likely know that Bugs Bunny usually outsmarts everyone, Sylvester and Tweety are hilarious adversaries, Daffy Duck is at his funniest when he’s angry or on the losing end of anything, and that Roadrunner is way more trouble than it’s worth to Wile E. Coyote.

Looney Tunes is yet another example of how something could, technically, be pleasantly silly enough for kids, but just mature enough to get and keep the attention of adults. (Who doesn’t know what it’s like to repeatedly miss your target like Elmer Fudd?) When you watch one of these belly-laugh inducing entries, the only thing stopping you from watching another (and another) will be a power outage… That’s a joke, son!

7. Rick and Morty

A decade ago, if you asked us to name our Top Five most thoroughly inventive, consistently thrilling, amusingly thought-provoking, and deeply moving science-fiction series, we would have never guessed an Adult Swim original comedy would make the cut. Nevertheless, Rick and Morty — co-created by the now-fired Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon — has risen above its crude animation, and even cruder humor, to be widely remembered as, not just one of the funniest sci-fi TV shows, but among the genre’s all-time finest.

It is no surprise the series was bred from a Back to the Future parody short, as the pairing of alcoholic scientist Rick Sanchez with his grandson, Morty Smith, feels like a more volatile Marty and Doc situation, which is also just one of the many ways the series brilliantly pokes fun at and pays homage to pop culture. However, the best Rick and Morty episodes — in addition to introducing eye-popping, otherworldly, and downright absurd concepts — honor the series’ more relatable themes, such as family and existential dread, which cleverly sneak up on you while you experience the duo's latest crazy adventure through time and space.

6. Attack On Titan

There’s a lot of great anime out there, from wholesome shows like Spy X Family to much more action-heavy series like Demon Slayer and JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. But when it comes to anime that just generally rivals some of the greatest television shows of all-time, then look no further than Attack on Titan, which we once called the best under-the-radar show on television. Because no show swerved like Attack on Titan did, and it all falls upon its protagonist/antagonist, Eren Yeager, who the audience is firmly behind…until we aren’t.

That’s right, Attack on Titan initially seems very simple in premise — Titans bad, people good — but soon changes dramatically to the point where we wonder if we may have had it all wrong the entire time. Are the titans were the ones who were misunderstood, and the humans were the bad guys. Plus, this is the rare exception where the anime may be superior to the manga, and if you know anything about manga, that is no small feat. This is an anime for the ages.

5. Bluey

Bluey has simply become must-watch programming for families, and don’t be surprised when Mom and Dad find themselves just as entertained as the little ones. The infectious theme song ropes you in as it introduces Mum (Chilli), Dad (Bandit), little sister Bingo and big sister Bluey, but it’s the heart-filled interactions between the Blue Heelers that have kept people coming back. Some episodes are laugh-out-loud funny — “I slipped on my beans!” — and others will hit you right in the feels and cause tears to flow freely.

Parents have become endeared to Bluey because it inspires us to be better. It encourages us to play with our kids and gives us permission to act silly in public. Why care what strangers think if you can make your kids laugh, right? But Bluey also shows the harder moments. Sometimes Bandit and Chilli don’t have time to play. Sometimes they don’t know what to say or just need some peace and quiet after partying too hard on New Year’s Eve. We need permission to want those things in real life, too.

4. The Simpsons

The Simpsons is the most popular and successful animated show in history because it’s hilarious in so many different ways. No matter what your sense of humor is, there’s almost certainly a Simpsons character that’s funny in the exact way you’re looking for. From highbrow literary references thrown out as asides to people falling over and getting injured in embarrassing or gruesome ways, and everything in between, each episode is jam-packed with jokes intended to do very different things and to appeal to very different people.

If it happened in a lesser show, it might feel like pandering, but with The Simpsons, the "whatever sticks" approach always felt like layers and variance. That’s a testament to the quality of the writing. Most shows that try to do too much are overtly better at one of the things they’re trying to do, which makes the rest seem less than or out of place. Not The Simpsons. Thanks to fantastic, complicated leads and the funniest supporting network of side characters in TV history, the writers can be funny in so many unique, challenging, satirical, irreverent and sometimes prophetic ways, and they have for more than 750 delightful episodes.

3. Avatar: The Last Airbender

From scathing commentary about imperialism to discussions of spirituality, trauma and extinction, Nickelodeon's Avatar: The Last Airbender packs deep philosophical meaning into its animated stories. This universe, centered around people boasting the ability to bend elements, follows Avatar Aang on his journey to master the elements and defeat the Fire Lord. This series from Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko is a masterful classic, filled with fun side-quests like the trio’s journey to Omashu, as well as complex politics surrounding the Royal Fire Nation family, sassy characters (we’re of course talking about Sokka and Toph), insanely well-developed story arcs like Zuko’s, and it's all taied together with mind-boggling action,

Like the Avatar, ATLA gets stronger with time, and as Aang mastered the elements, the series grew with him. No matter how old you are, this series hits hard, and the more you watch it the better it gets. Avatar: The Last Airbender seems destined to always feel timeless, and like the Avatar’s powers, this show will likely continue to be passed down through generations for years to come.

2. BoJack Horseman

It’s understandable if you watch the first episode of BoJack Horseman and don’t quite click with it. It’s a show that throws you headfirst into its world  – providing a deep inside look at Hollywood and celebrity in a reality where humans coexist with humanoid animals. That being said, as one of the first Netflix original creations, it’s a series that greatly benefited from the streamer’s binge model, as to dig deeper into the show is to fall in love with it and everything it has to say.

All six seasons of BoJack Horseman are witty, clever, and hilarious, with countless background gags that make it incredibly rewarding on rewatch – but what makes it special is just how real it is. The aesthetic may be silly, but the characters are all ultimately broken people and there is an unflinching and powerful examination of their individual damage over the course of the show. The penultimate episode of every season manages to be as emotionally devastating as anything that Hollywood has ever produced for the small screen, and each one is both shocking and mesmerizing.

1. Batman: The Animated Series

Unquestionably one of the best examples of any animated TV show appealing to both kids and adults, Batman: The Animated Series continues to stand as perhaps the greatest triumph in the media history of DC Comics’ Caped Crusader. BTAS, and by extension The New Batman Adventures, followed in the footsteps of the Tim Burton Batman movies by bringing the character back to his darker roots and inserting viewers into an anachronistic Gotham City dripping with noir flavor. Here we have a Batman who strikes fear into the hearts of criminals just as easily as he inspires the innocent.

Anchored by the late Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne, Batman: The Animated Series effectively walked the line of honoring the source material while also putting unique spins on characters like The Joker, Mr. Freeze and Two-Face, while also launching neo-icons like Harley Quinn, Renee Montoya and a handful of others who’ve become mythos mainstays. Even ignoring that BTAS launched the beloved DC Animated Universe, Bruce Timm and Eric Radomski's show serves for many as the gold(black) standard by which all other Batman adaptations are judged. 1992 may be a long time ago, but BTAS still feels wonderfully timeless.

Hopefully the next 80 years of animated series can stand up to the classic eras that have already come and gone, as well as everything happening currently. But for anyone who hasn't yet watched everything listed above, now you know the assignment, mmk?

Star Wars: The Bad Batch is ending with its third season, and fans are likely eager to know what lies ahead for Clone Force 99 during this “batch” of final episodes. While speculation has persisted since Season 2 ended in the spring of 2023, viewers now have an idea of what to expect. An official trailer has been released for the final season, and it’s just as bombastic as one might expect. But, now that I’ve seen the footage and like what I’ve seen, I really need to discuss the fact that a fan-favorite character from The Clone Wars is returning!

Who Is The Bad Batch Season 3 Bringing Back From Clone Wars?

At this point, The Bad Batch has already brought in a number of familiar faces from both animated and live-action shows set within the Star Wars universe (which can be streamed with a Disney+ subscription). Captain Rex from The Clone Wars has made frequent appearances throughout both seasons, and the villianous Cad Bane has been in the mix as well. There was also a surprise cameo from Caleb Dume, who fans know as Kanan Jarrus on Rebels, during the series premiere. And another major player who’s gotten in on the action is The Mandalorian’s Fennec Shand, who was somewhat different, from a character standpoint, compared to her live-action counterpart. 

So it was probably a given that the producers, including franchise guru Dave Filoni, would’ve wanted to bring in someone big for the show’s send-off. And, to my surprise and likely many others, the person who’s been brought back is none other than Asajj Ventress! That’s right, the Sith who was formerly a pupil of Count Dooku returns, and you can see her updated look down below:

The Bad Batch’s creative team confirmed early on that important Star Wars characters would pop in from time to time, and this is certainly a biggie. While Ventress has not appeared in any of the franchise’s live-action fare, she firmly solidified her place within the mythos via The Clone Wars. I truly can’t wait to see how she figures into TBB Season 3 but, based on the trailer above, she and the titular squad are going to meet under uneasy circumstances. Certainly I’m not the only person who’s excited for what’s to come, and I’d bet plenty of money that I’m also not the only one with questions about her return, given the canon that’s been established.

What Do We Know About Asajj Ventress’ Whereabouts?

Fans are probably aware of the fact that Asajj was a constant presence throughout just about the entirety of Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ run. By the end of her time on that show, the skilled lightsaber wielder found herself on the outs with Dooku and the Sith. Following the series’ cancellation, Ventress appeared in the novel, Dark Disciple, which was based on unfinished episode ideas. The story saw her teaming up with Jedi Quinlan Vos in an attempt to kill Dooku. Ventress ended up falling in love with Vos and saving him after he turned to the dark side. She ultimately appeared to lose her life after her former master used Force lightning on her. Vos then sent her body back to her homeworld of Dathomir. 

Clearly, Ventress didn’t actually meet her demise at that point, so one can’t help but wonder what happened there. Well, while we don’t have any specifics yet, Bad Batch EP Brad Rau shared a thoughtful response with StarWars.com ahead of the inevitable speculation: 

So admirers of that particular book won’t have to worry about it being de-canonized. If anything, those comments have me even more pumped for Ventress’ return. Considering her lightsabers, I wonder if she’s accepted the Force and considers herself a Jedi now. We’ll just have to wait and see, and believe me when I say that this new season can’t come soon enough.

The Bad Batch returns to Disney+ with a three-episode premiere on February 21 as part of the 2024 TV schedule. In addition to this production, you can also keep tabs on other upcoming Star Wars TV shows and movies.

Not even the most successful film franchises in the world are immune to failure. And more often than not a long running series finds its weakest link occurring closer to the middle of its total chain. 

So brace yourself for this list of the lowest rated movies from popular franchises, based solely on the Rotten Tomatoes critic review scores for sagas like the Star Trek and Star Wars movies, plus so many more.

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989) - 21%

If you can’t imagine William Shatner and DeForest Kelly singing “Row Row Row Your Boat” to a confused Leonard Nimoy, you probably haven’t seen Star Trek V. If you thought roasts of Gene Roddenberry’s writing were harsh, try reading some of the reviews for this Shatner directed/co-written entry into the Original Series movies.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) - 19%

It’s hard to imagine a world where Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ animated saga actually saw critics panning its existence. But sure enough, before it grew into the phenomenon everyone knows and loves today, the 2008 feature-film debut of this fresh take landed itself at the tail end of the franchise’s review scores. 

A View To A Kill (James Bond, 1985) - 37%

Not even Christopher Walken’s charming villain could save the final entry of Sir Roger Moore’s James Bond movies, A View to A Kill. Throughout the decades of history involved with adapting the literary creation of Ian Fleming, it seems the one where 007 engages in a ski battle set to “California Girls” is seen as the weakest point in the canon.

The Next Karate Kid (1994) - 7%

Shifting to a new lead is never easy for a beloved franchise like The Karate Kid. The bad news for that teen drama saga is that Hilary Swank’s The Next Karate Kid represents the deep end of critical disapproval. The good news is that the spinoff legacy-quel series Cobra Kai eventually made up for it.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 (2011) - 25%

How crazy is this: The Twilight Saga’s lowest ranking critical rating is the first part of its epic two-part conclusion?! Now we can’t say for sure that the epic fight scene in Breaking Dawn Part 2 was what put it above Part 1. But can you really say with absolute certainty that it wasn’t?

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) - 36%

Ok Wizarding World fans: you probably called this the moment you walked into the room. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is, without question, the bottom of the magical barrel with critics. Fortunately, the movie that followed, The Secrets of Dumbledore, managed to reverse its critical fortunes.

Jurassic World Dominion (2022) - 29%

This one stings, especially in the face of a franchise that counts Jurassic Park III among its entries. But the reality is that co-writer/director Colin Trevorrow’s trilogy closer Jurassic World Dominion brings up the rear of the RT review parade. C’mon, even critics are allowed to get it wrong from time to time.

Terminator Genisys (2015) - 26%

Somehow, even with Terminator Salvation sitting right there, 2015’s Terminator Genisys takes the crown for the lowest RT rated entry. Perhaps turning John Connor (Jason Clarke) into a villainous cyborg was a bridge too far for some franchise fans to cross; and that's even in light of what Terminator: Dark Fate would do to the character!

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023) - 69%

Admittedly, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny seems fated to have this spot in the pecking order. Indy’s fifth adventure didn’t exactly inspire fortune and glory during its box office run, and to be fair there were some huge swings taken. But if your lowest rated RT score is a fresh 69%, how bad is it really?  

Transformers: The Last Knight (2017) - 16%

Movies like Bumblebee and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts really have turned things around for the Michael Bay-originated franchise. Nowhere is that more clear than the fact that the final Bay directed installment, Transformers: The Last Knight, is the low water mark for the franchise’s critical stores. Unfortunately Sir Anthony Hopkins can only do so much to save a picture. 

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017) - 30%

Fun fact: Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl is the only entry in the series that’s considered “Fresh” by Rotten Tomatoes scores. That’s kind of wild to consider, especially with how the series’ box office fortunes progressed from that point. And sitting right in Davy Jones’ locker is 2017’s Dead Men Tell No Tales; which still has a post-credits sting worthy of following up with.  

Rocky V (1990) - 31%

Another easy fish in the barrel, Rocky V is the dead end of Sylvester Stallone’s franchise. A movie so infamous it was technically retconned by 2006’s Rocky Balboa, but it still technically exists in the series. Good luck finding anyone who’ll defend it as their favorite though. 

Men In Black: International (2019) - 23%

Franchise lead changes can be murder on a series, and that seems to be what Men In Black: International did to the popular series of sci-fi comic adaptations. Not even the chemistry between Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson, as well as a murderer’s row of talent like Rebecca Ferguson, Kumail Nanjiani, and Liam Neeson could save this one with critics. And be honest: did you remember anyone outside of the film’s leads being part of the cast?  

Home Sweet Home Alone (2021) - 15%

In a saga that has two entries not even rated by Rotten Tomatoes, Home Sweet Home Alone is officially the nadir of the legacy holiday franchise. That fact is only made more dire when you realize it’s the only sequel outside of the first two films that ties into the McCallister Cinematic Universe. That’s right, Home Alone 3 is technically a better movie than this; and that’s not a hard case to make.

Vegas Vacation (1997) - 15%

As sure as you can assume that Audry and Rusty Griswold will be recast, people’s opinions on the National Lampoon’s Vacation series vary quite wildly. While most would call that first film their favorite, Vegas Vacation has somehow become the litmus test for what kind of Griswold fan you are. Bring this one up the next time you’re gathered with family or friends, and see the sparks fly. 

Jason Bourne (2016) - 54%

How could you go wrong with bringing Matt Damon back as Jason Bourne? Apparently that question was easier to answer than previously thought, as 2016’s big resurrection of The Bourne Identity’s commanding lead absolutely cratered upon release. Maybe that previously rumored Jeremy Renner crossover was the move to make after all. 

Halloween: The Curse Of Michael Myers (1995) - 8%

Paul Rudd, beautiful man and textbook example of Golden Retriever energy, sometimes finds himself in a bit of a pickle. Though in all fairness, Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers was early on in his career, and it’s not his fault that the film went through such a troubled production that there are two different cuts out there. The bright side is that Clueless came out that same year, leaving Mr. Rudd not only hedging his bets, but coming out on top of this gamble. 

A Good Day To Die Hard (2013) - 15%

Some franchises you can set your watch to when it comes to the movie everyone despises. While the big action in John McClane’s canon is which Die Hard sequel is best, most everyone can agree that A Good Day to Die Hard is the absolute pits. In fact, some might even rank that car battery commercial Bruce Willis did, in character as McClane, higher than this misfire.

Inspector Clouseau (The Pink Panther, 1968) - 0%

Trivia time friends: Inspector Clouseau is one of two times the classic run of films cast someone else in this titular role. Using the late, great Alan Arkin as the famed French sleuth at this point, it was obvious that you can’t just sub out Peter Sellers at will for this iconic character. As for the other actor that played the role: that would be Sir Roger Moore, credited as Turk Thrust II, in a small cameo for 1983’s Curse of the Pink Panther. 

Friday the 13th: Part 3 (1982) - 7%

Remember when horror movies used to have “the 3D installment” to count as a gimmick? Of course you don’t, because it never really survived past Friday the 13th: Part 3. Though other series would try again, both before and after the 3D boom of the late aughts, Jason Voorhees’ adventure through the third dimension of entertainment went over as well as you’d think. On the plus side, it does have an awesome Alice Cooper theme to call its own, thanks to the inclusion of the song “He’s Back.”

A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010) - 14%

We seem to be on the cusp of a potential reevaluation of 2010’s A Nightmare on Elm Street remake. Some consider Jackie Earle Haley’s portrayal of Freddy Kruger to be quite chilling, and a welcome return to the sinister nature of Wes Craven’s iconic creation. Upon its release however, the film was panned heavily, and much like Friday the 13th, any aspirations for a follow-up were snuffed out. 

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014) - 55%

Chris Pine can revitalize franchises to a pretty fantastic effect, like he did with J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek. Even with that experience under his belt, it sadly wasn’t enough to win over critics in the Kenneth Branagh directed Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit. On the bright side, we eventually saw Pine nab crazy experimental roles past this point, and Branagh would go on to make his fantastic Hercule Poirot films as well. So maybe the Clancyverse wasn’t their true calling. 

Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004) - 19%

In the entire history of the live-action Resident Evil films, and yes that includes Welcome to Raccoon City, there isn’t a fresh entry in the lot. So guessing which one is the statistical floor of the Capcom video game adaptations isn’t an easy feat. If you guessed Resident Evil: Apocalypse was that very film, you win a prize: being harsh on what’s arguably one of the better sequels in this wild range of films.

Hotel Transylvania (2012) - 45%

This is a fact that would make anyone go “blah blah-blah.” Out of all four Hotel Transylvania movies, the very first entry is the one that sits at the bottom of the food chain. Which makes the Adam Sandler-led ensemble comedy one of those cases where not one, but two major recastings actually didn’t cause the series to flatline faster than a vampire.

The Transporter Refueled (2015) - 15%

Rule one of entering a franchise: always know your audience. The Transporter Refueled could be seen as forgetting that rule, as the first film to recast Frank Martin saw Ed Skrein stepping into the shoes of Jason Statham. While he seemed to do rather well in the lead, critics just couldn’t help themselves when deciding to send it to the back of the pack.

Night At The Museum (2006) - 43%

Wild fact of the moment: even with a recast animated legacy-quel, Night at the Museum’s very first installment is the lowest rated RT score in the series. Of course, that wasn’t enough to stop the Ben Stiller series from continuing to thrive. So maybe the tablet’s magic extends to the fate of the franchise it exists within as well. 

Ice Age: Collision Course (2016) - 18%

Horror franchises love to go to space in order to spice things up in later entries. However, the Ice Age series technically isn’t a part of that genre, depending on the parents you consult on the matter. In either case, it sounds like that sort of mixup may have been part of why this Scrat-enhanced entry is in stone cold last place.

Rambo: Last Blood (2019) - 26%

“They drew first blood,” but Sylvester Stallone’s Rambo: Last Blood made sure it was the end of an era for the action star’s legendary character. While the first film is considered one of the best action movies of all time, its less than stellar finale had critics ready to move on. To survive a franchise, you’ve got to become someone who knows when to quit while they’re ahead.

Sudden Impact/The Dead Pool (Dirty Harry, 1983/1988) - 53%

Leave it to “Dirty” Harry Callahan to buck the trends, and have not one, but two movies tied for last place. 1983’s Sudden Impact and 1988’s The Dead Pool are both equally rotten in the minds of critics, no matter how many wicked one-liners Clint Eastwood’s hard nosed cop spouts. 

Lethal Weapon 4 (1998) - 52%

Maybe they were too old for this mess. Despite ending Lethal Weapon 3 with both Danny Glover and Mel Gibson partaking in that gag that helped make the series famous, 1998’s Lethal Weapon 4 happened, scoring the worst RT score in series history.

The Matrix Revolutions (2003) - 34%

Pop quiz, hot shot: did you expect The Matrix Revolutions to represent the bottom of the barrel for Keanu Reeves’ sci-fi epic? If you think that’s crazy, buckle up for what we’re about to tell you. As it turns out, this is the only Matrix movie that isn’t considered Fresh. How unfair is that?!

The Godfather Part III (1990) - 66%

The Godfather Coda: The Death of Michael Corelone recut The Godfather Part III decades after Francis Ford Coppola’s infamous sequel laid an egg ending the Corleone saga once and for all. In its original form, the movie weighed in at a respectable, but still hotly debated 66%. The recut, on the other hand, saw itself clearing an 86% RT rating; and even led to star Diane Keaton’s glowing reappraisal upon its release.

You never know where a popular franchise is going to go when it comes to public and critic opinion. Let that lesson sink in as you reflect on the movies we’ve discussed above, as the notion that the last entry is the worst one can properly be dispelled with the cases we’ve just studied. 

Spoilers ahead for the Season 1 finale of Ahsoka, called "The Jedi, the Witch, and the Warlord."

The finale of Ahsoka on Disney+ tied off some loose ends that have been dangling as far back as the final episode of Star Wars Rebels in 2018, and also left so many unanswered questions that it’s time to start hoping for a Season 2 a la Andor. The days that have passed since “The Jedi, the Witch, and the Warlord” released for Disney+ subscribers already prove that fans are divided on whether or not it worked as a finale, but I’m just happy that Dave Filoni included some callbacks to Rebels and The Clone Wars. That said, there’s one moment that didn’t happen that still has me extremely bummed out. 

But before getting into the bummer, let’s be optimistic and look at the fun callbacks to the animated series in the Ahsoka finale!

The Callbacks To The Clone Wars

“The Jedi, the Witch, and the Warlord” delivered some nods to the animated shows set earlier on the Star Wars timeline that really fit with what I was hoping for from Ahsoka. In fact, moments that had me flashing back to The Clone Wars were pretty important to the plot instead of just Easter eggs.

Anakin Skywalker watched Ahsoka. The most obvious callback in the Ahsoka finale was when the Force ghost of Anakin Skywalker paid a visit to his former padawan on Peridea. Not only was it a nod to their bond, but the shot of Anakin watching Ahsoka walk away is reminiscent of her final appearance in the original run of The Clone Wars, when she decided to leave the Jedi Order. 

The Father and the Son. Baylan Skoll, played by the late and great Ray Stevenson, appeared to finally reach what he was looking for with the statues of the Father and the Son. For Star Wars fans who haven’t watched the animated shows, the statues may have looked more like the Lord of the Rings Argonath than anything from the galaxy far, far away, but they were introduced in the Mortis arc of Clone Wars along with the Daughter. 

Morai’s appearance. The owl-like creature that appeared toward the end of the finale is known as Morai. She is strongly implied to be connected to the Daughter, whose statue was incomplete on Peridea and who brought Ahsoka back to life before her own death in Clone Wars’ Mortis arc. Morai appeared more often in Rebels than Clone Wars, but the connection goes back to the earlier animated series. 

Huyang was in professor mode. Huyang’s existence by Ahsoka is quite different from when he taught thousands of generations of Jedi younglings to construct their lightsabers, but he was able to go back into professor mode as Ezra came on board Ahsoka’s damaged ship to build his third lightsaber. While Ezra didn’t entirely listen to Huyang’s attempts to teach, it was still a throwback to the droid’s original purpose.

The Callbacks To Star Wars Rebels

There are throwbacks to Rebels in “The Jedi, the Witch, and the Warlord” that were more nostalgic than essential to the plot. For me as somebody who has always preferred Star Wars Rebels to The Clone Wars, these were the moments that particularly stood out… and led me to the moment that I wish had been included.

Sabine and Ezra talked about Kanan. Finally, Kanan Jarrus got some love in Ahsoka beyond the quick name-drop from Huyang in Episode 5 to explain why Jacen has Force abilities. After Sabine mentioned their late father figure, Ezra established that Kanan was his former master who taught him everything he knows. 

Huyang mentioned Kanan’s real name. Rebels actually only mentioned that Kanan’s real name was Caleb Dume before the fall of the Jedi Order a couple of times, although the Season 4 episode immediately following his death was called “DUME.” In Ahsoka’s finale, Huyang reflected on teaching Caleb how to build a lightsaber, and described him as "clever," “very curious," and "a little shy, perhaps."

Ezra built his new lightsaber to look like Kanan’s. Huyang revealed that he still had a twin piece to Caleb’s lightsaber despite all the years that passed, and he gave it to Ezra. The long-lost Jedi ignited his new blade to show that it was blue, just like his original. Ezra’s new lightsaber is probably as close to Kanan’s as fans will ever see in live-action.

Sabine shoved Ezra with the Force. I have mixed feelings about Ahsoka’s storyline for Sabine since she definitely didn’t need the Force or a mostly off-screen Jedi journey to be a great character, but I did get a kick out of Ezra taking a running jump to reach Thrawn’s ship and Sabine using the Force to give the extra push he needed. It was a move straight out of Ezra and Kanan’s playbook in Rebels.

Ezra stole a stormtrooper uniform. Was there any moment in Ahsoka's finale that was more pure Rebels than Ezra impersonating a stormtrooper and then stealing his uniform to stow away? Ezra was collecting helmets before he even joined the Ghost crew, and wearing trooper armor to go undercover was a Rebels staple. If anything, this was Ezra coming full circle: he’s finally tall enough to pass as a stormtrooper instead of a scout trooper. 

Why I’m Bummed Despite All These Callbacks

If there was one moment that I was hoping against hope for in the Ahsoka finale, it was Ezra returning to his galaxy to reunite with Hera and then meeting – or at least finding out about – young Jacen. In the previous episode, Sabine seemed to deliberately leave Hera and Kanan’s son out of the updates that she gave to Ezra, which really led me to believe that Ahsoka was saving the big moment for the Season 1 finale. 

When Ezra arrived at the New Republic hangar and removed his helmet to see Hera again for the first time in a decade, I really thought it could happen. Unfortunately, the scene ended not long after Hera recognized him and said his name, before any sign of Jacen or even a hug. 

Now, I was prepared for a reunion without any tears from Hera, since I wasn’t sure if it was even possible for actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead to cry without ruining her makeup as the Twi’lek general. I even would have been happy if Jacen had just popped up at the end for Ezra to get a look at him. Instead, Hera and Ezra had a very brief reunion, with Ezra presumably unaware that Kanan and Hera had a son. 

And the reason that this really bums me out is that I can only assume that there will be a time jump to whenever Star Wars picks this story up again, meaning that we’ll never get to see Ezra’s reaction to Jacen. For me, Eman Esfandi has been the Ahsoka cast member who has best captured the spirit of their character from animation, and it would have been a treat to see his adult version of Ezra get the Jacen reveal.

Did this ruin the finale for me? No, and I appreciated that Ahsoka finally gave Kanan his due in the “The Jedi, the Witch, and the Warlord,” but I can’t help but imagine what might have been if the scene of Hera and Ezra’s reunion had run just a little bit longer to include Spectre-7. Hera didn’t even hug Ezra before the scene cut away with no sign of Jacen, and I’ll always see this as a missed opportunity. After all, Ahsoka had me more invested in the Rebels characters than Ahsoka herself!

I was a fan of the Rosario Dawson-led series on the whole, though, and I’m hoping for a Season 2 to continue the story after all the cliffhangers rather than waiting for Dave Filoni’s movie to see what comes next. For now, we can always revisit the first full season of Ahsoka steaming on Disney+, as well as all seven seasons of The Clone Wars and all four seasons of Star Wars Rebels.

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away… fans were gifted a plethora of Star Wars shows -- all of which can be accessed with a Disney+ subscription.

I remember when fans of the famous Star Wars universe would do anything to get their hands on some good TV shows set within the fictional continuity. Since the House of Mouse's streaming service launched in 2019, we've received some awesome ones. From The Mandalorian and Ahsoka to The Book of Boba Fett and Andor, let's discuss how these small-screen productions stack up against each other, especially with all these upcoming Star Wars TV shows. To clarify, this is a ranking of only Disney+ shows, including the final season of The Clone Wars since it was released exclusively on the streamer. On that note, let's get into it.

10. The Book Of Boba Fett

I mean… is anyone surprised I put this at the bottom of the list?

The show had a lot going for it, and I enjoyed many of the fantastic moments from The Book of Boba Fett. But as I've given myself time to really think it over, it really is the most underwhelming of streaming series.

Much of the story moved very slowly. While there were some compelling narrative pieces in place, it mostly felt like there was no true momentum within the proceedings. It wasn't until Din Djarin (a.k.a. Mando) suddenly showed up halfway through the tale that the action really started to kick into high gear.

And that's where The Book of Boba Fett fell apart. The story ended up focusing more on Din than Fett -- the titular character, the person fans were supposed to learn more about. When a supporting character steps in, steals the show and successfully takes the attention away from the main protagonist, there's a problem. While the production dished out plenty of classic Star Wars tropes, it's simply not my favorite.

9. Tales Of The Jedi/Tales Of The Empire

Tales of the Jedi has been pretty good. It's an intimate series with not that many episodes. The first season follows two different Jedi – Ahsoka Tano and Count Dooku. Of course, both fall on opposing sides of the force but share commonalities.

The second season follows two arcs as well, between Morgan Elsbeth and former Jedi Barriss Offee.

Putting this show at No. 9 was tough for me, given my love for it. A few other animated series on this list are better but, even so, there's a lot to love about TOTJ, from the writing to the music, and personally, I do like getting to explore the backstory of these characters more. I hope a third season comes out.

8. Star Wars: The Bad Batch

This animated series has proven to be a lot of fun. Star Wars: The Bad Batch, a spin-off, sequel series of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, follows the story of an elite group of clone troopers with mutations that make them unique. Ultimately, it's their genetic alterations that cause them not to participate in Emperor Palpatine's Order 66. After defecting from the Galactic Empire, they act as mercenaries and travel the galaxy.

I'm a huge lover of animation, and this SW cartoons' style is unique. The first season of The Bad Batch was interesting and provided backstories for many awesome characters. The second was alright, but I personally loved the final season and think it deserves to move up to the eighth spot.

7. Star Wars: Visions

Okay, so anyone who knows me knows I enjoy anime. I can recommend any anime for new fans to get their feet wet. So if you combine anime and Star Wars, you've sold me.

Visions is another animated anthology originally used to showcase various forms of anime. Across the two seasons, there are eighteen short films, the first nine being from Japan and the others coming from studios around the world. Each story draws inspiration from different themes and cultures.

In short, this series is just the best. I love the variety of stories and animation on display, and that only improved from Seasons 1 to 2, and I believe a third volume is coming out in 2025.

6. Obi-Wan Kenobi

Obi-Wan Kenobi returned Ewan McGregor to one of his best movie roles, this time for a miniseries. The show follows Kenobi as he rescues a 10-year-old Princess Leia from the Galactic Empire, which brings him into conflict with his former apprentice, Anakin Skywalker, otherwise known as Darth Vader.

The show garnered a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, and I can see why. While it's not as good as some other shows on this list in some respects, there's a lot to enjoy. The cinematography and fight choreography are impressive, the story is fun and meaningful to the Star Wars franchise and Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen really seem to have enjoyed working on it.

I mean, you can't sit there and tell me you didn't get chills watching those two fight as their characters again. It’s like my childhood coming back to life.

5. The Acolyte

Man…I loved this series.

The series was an original idea that took place at the end of the High Republic before the Skywalker Saga even began, and follows a Jedi who looks into instances that have caused mayhem, which leads to a great adventure.

I am so, so, so upset that this series was cancelled. It deserved a Season 2 so much. The chemistry, the story, the lightsaber fights, were all incredible. Truthfully, it was one of the first Star Wars shows that I experienced where I truly was smiling during every episode and not scratching my head wondering what just happened. I’m never going to forgive Disney for letting go of this gem.

4. Star Wars: The Clone Wars (The Final Season)

The last season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars was a cinematic masterpiece. For so long, fans of the franchise thought the beloved show would never receive a proper send-off, but series producer Dave Filoni and co. made it happen.

As someone who watched the series when it aired on Cartoon Network all those years ago, I knew the ending had to be perfect, and fans were given the absolute best version of it. Not only did this last batch of episodes tie up loose ends, it also set other storylines in motion.

If for some reason you haven't seen the whole series, do yourself a favor and watch it -- it's the best animated Star Wars offering out there, in my opinion.

3. Ahsoka 

Coming in at No. 3 is Ahsoka. The series, starring Rosario Dawson, is a spin-off of The Mandalorian -- like Book of Boba Fett -- and follows the same character that was introduced in the 2008 animated film The Clone Wars (which set the stage for the TV series of the same name).

Amid a growing stable of content, this series really stood out for me. I've always been a big fan of Ahsoka, but Rosario Dawson's winning, live-action portrayal has only made me love her more. That's partially because we were able to see her story expanded upon and got to see some familiar faces.

That includes Hayden Christensen, who returned as Anakin Skywalker (this time) in that incredible fifth episode episode. Die-hard fans really need to see this one. And considering there’s a second season of Ahsoka in the works, you might as well check out the first.

2. The Mandalorian 

The Mandalorian, which kicked off this streaming era for SW, had to be high up on the list. Starring Pedro Pascal in one of his best roles, the series follows Din Djarin as he tries to get a young child – later revealed to be named Grogu – to safety and eventually finds out the child wields the Force.

The first two seasons are fantastic and simply amount to great television. The story is excellent, the characters are interesting and Grogu is pretty cute, too. Season 3 is where it started to fall off a bit. In short, there was still plenty to love – but also not love. I’m not even sure if a Season 4 is happening because there’s an upcoming The Mandalorian and Grogu movie, but the series is still fun.

Even so, I still think The Mandalorian is one of the best shows Disney+ has because of the story, visual effects and lore it adds to the Star Wars universe. But there is one other Star Wars show that tops it.

1. Andor

Andor. When I first heard about this show, I was excited but did not expect to love it as much as I did. Admittedly, I didn't watch it until later in its run, but it blew me away when I did.

First off, the Andor cast is impeccable and led perfectly by Diego Luna. Someone give this man all the awards, because he deserves every last one of them.

Secondly, it provides one of the most grounded Star Wars stories ever delivered and is filled to the brim with drama. It also doesn't heavily rely on established elements within the larger franchise.

But at the end of the day, this series is just downright entertaining. I was glued to my seat whenever I watched it, and I could not stop until I binged every episode. And while we'll be waiting a bit more for Andor Season 2 to be released, I recommend fans check out the first season. Hell, I think even casual viewers would enjoy this series, if anything for its sharp political and social commentary. (Yes, that's how confident I am in it.)

There are so many new Star Wars projects to look forward to but, for now, I'll stick to rewatching the ones listed above.

For much of Star Wars’ history, George Lucas oversaw the direction of the sprawling franchise he created decades ago. The veteran filmmaker hasn’t been quite as involved with it in recent years, however, especially since he sold Lucasfilm film to The Walt Disney Company in 2012. Since then, other figureheads like Kathleen Kennedy and Jon Favreau have helped steer the (star)ship, so to speak. A person who’s been particularly impactful on that front is Dave Filoni, who has a firm understanding of Lucas’ mythology. He’s been quite successful since joining the company in the 2000s, and there’s a funny story about his hiring, which includes a moment Filoni thought was a prank. 

Dave Filoni’s work within the galaxy far, far away began in earnest with the animated series The Clone Wars, which is now revered in some circles. The writer’s work in the animation corner of the franchise also includes Rebels, The Bad Batch and more. The past few years have also seen Filoni try his hand at penning and directing live-action projects, including The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett. His most recent endeavor is Ahsoka, and it’s received favorable reviews from critics and fans alike. Unsurprisingly, Filoni is also busy with upcoming Star Wars shows and movies. He’s accomplished so much, which makes the story behind his hiring all the more ironic and chuckle worthy. 

Dave Filoni Had A Lot Of Creative Experience Under His Belt Prior To Being Hired By Lucasfilm 

Before he was tasked with handling the journeys of Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano and more, the now-49-year-old producer was a busy animator. He spent years working on a variety of TV shows for different networks. There are adult-oriented credits on his resume, such as King of the Hill and The Oblongs. But he also cut his teeth on kid-centric fare, including Kim Possible, Fillmore! and American Dragon: Jake Long. (Coincidentally, those three shows and a few others he worked on were also produced by Disney.) 

Yet the show that really allowed Dave Filoni to experiment with serialized storytelling and complex action sequences was Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender. During an episode of Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian (which is streamable with a Disney+ subscription), Filoni briefly mentioned his time working on the beloved series. He seemed to relish the experience, particularly because he has a “love” for anime and action. Considering the scope and tone of Airbender, Filoni seemed like a perfect fit for Star Wars, which he was already a massive fan of. He, however, didn’t believe anyone, let alone George Lucas, would reach out with an opportunity, though. 

The Animator Received A Phone Call From Lucasfilm That He Believed Was A Prank

Dave Filoni was working on Avatar at Nick during the early 2000s and, while at the studio, his co-workers became well aware of his love for Star Wars. As he explained, his fandom led his colleagues to lightly poke fun at him once in a while. It’s for that reason Filoni was skeptical when he received a phone call from someone claiming to represent the animation branch of Lucasfilm. When explaining why he thought his recruitment was a joke, the writer/director said the following: 

Honestly, given the circumstances, you really can’t blame him for being somewhat untrustworthy at that moment. The inquiry would’ve felt a bit too perfect to me, if I’d been in the Dave the Barbarian alum’s shoes. There were also a few other key reasons he didn’t believe an animated Clone Wars series was in the works at that point. He continued:

But he did indeed buy in (and SW fans are definitely better for him having done it). You can’t help but laugh when you consider his storied tenure at Lucasfilm began with that humorously awkward phone call. Before he could officially land the job though, there was another key step in the hiring process. He had to meet with the enigmatic Mr. Lucas.

What Went Down When Dave Filoni And George Lucas Met For The First Time?

We all know what it’s like to apply for a job, right? You receive communication from a prospective employer, and then you have to go through interviews. That process was no different for Dave Filoni when it came to him joining the Lucasfilm family. He further explained that he had to go through two rounds of meetings before actually sitting down with George Lucas, who had Filoni’s portfolio in front of him during their eventual meet-up. The animator admitted to being nervous during the sit-down, which sounds like it was both intimidating and enlightening: 

At the same time, the Avatar vet found major “validation” due to the fact that he and the filmmaker shared many of the same thoughts on the sci-fi series’ lore. The relatively quick interview eventually ended, of course, and, as it would turn out, the animation vet would get confirmation of his hiring in no time: 

And the rest is, as they say, history. From there, Dave Filoni began working on Star Wars: The Clone Wars, starting with the feature film of the same name (a.k.a. the series’ pilot), which he directed. While he’s mostly entrenched in the TV side of the franchise, Filoni is now set to direct a movie (that’ll utilize cutting-edge technology), and it’ll conclude the overarching story that runs through the TV shows. Not much has been shared about the project, but Filoni did name-drop Revenge of the Sith as a major source of inspiration. Ironically, that’s the same movie he was hyped about around the time Lucasfilm hired him. It’s funny how things work out, and I’m glad Filoni landed where he’s meant to be.

You can check out much of the producer’s contributions to the Star Wars franchise on Disney+.

Major spoilers for the eighth episode of Ahsoka, “Part Eight: The Jedi, the Witch and the Warlord,” lie ahead, so read at your own risk. 

After eight episodes, Ahoska – the latest Star Wars show to entertain fans with Disney+ subscriptions – reached (what might be) its end. The finale delivered plenty of action and well as some serious stakes, and you can bet the galaxy far, far away is going to be greatly shaken up by what went down. This installment also concluded with a number of major cliffhangers, from Grand Admiral Thrawn returning to the galaxy proper to Ahsoka Tano and Sabine Wren being stranded on Peridea. There’s also the matter of Baylan Skoll, who was last seen standing in front of some massive statues and, as a fan, I really need to talk about those for a bit. 

Baylan Skoll, who was played by the late Ray Stevenson, proved to be one of the most interesting characters on the show. Throughout the season, it was hinted that the Jedi-turned-mercenary was looking for a source of power that lay behind the light and dark sides of the Force. His presence in the final two episodes was somewhat limited, yet one of the last shots of the finale seemed to indicate his journey had only just begun. So why don’t we talk that cool tease out just a bit. 

Who Were The Massive Statues In The Finale Depicting?

While Ahsoka Tano, Sabine Wren and Ezra Bridger attempted to thwart Thrawn’s plans, Baylan continued on his quest and, as revealed, it led him to a mysterious location on Peridea. Upon his arrival, the camera pans out to show him standing in front of three statues – all of which were apparently built in honor of the three Mortis gods. The bearded one in the center is The Father, who represents the balance between the dark and light sides of the Force.  A shorter statue to the right depicts The Son, who is the embodiment of the dark side. And on the left, there’s another monument missing a head, and that would seemingly be of The Daughter, who encompasses the light side. 

The three gods made their debuts in a multi-episode story arc during Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ third season. The tale saw Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano and Obi-Wan Kenobi land on the extremely Force-sensitive plant of Mortis, where they met the aforementioned trio. It’s a compelling story and ultimately ends with all three of the powerful entities meeting their fates in varying ways. In the years since they aired, the episodes have been held in high regard by fans of the animated series and, now, it appears Dave Filoni (who co-produced CW) is ready to expand upon that lore. 

What Could The Reveal Of The Mortis God Statues Mean For The Future?

It must be noted that viewers don’t actually see what Baylon Skoll is looking at during the final moments of Ahsoka. If you’re like me though, you may have gotten the impression he’s found the ruins of an ancient location that’s strong with the Force. Said place could also provide him with the answers he seeks. Also, chances are Tano and Sabine will become aware of his findings as well. As the former surmised, she and her apprentice needed to be in Peridea at that time. And that was said as she laid eyes on Morai – an owl who became an ally to Ahsoka and served as the vessel in which the Daughter transferred her life energy before her death.

Of course, there are still a few unknown variables at play here. For one, we don’t even know if the series will absolutely return for a second season. And because of Ray Stevenson’s death, some fans are concerned that Baylan’s arc could fall by the wayside. Such a move would mirror Princess Leia’s hastily concluded arc in the sequel trilogy. 

I’m leaning towards the notion that Dave Filoni and co. will build upon the Mortis statue reveals, though, considering just how important it seems to be. Even if Season 2 doesn’t happen, the plot threads could get tied up in another medium or even in Filoni’s upcoming Star Wars film. Additionally, it’s possible Baylan could be recast in order for the character’s journey to continue in the live-action realm. Though there are factors to consider, I’m excited and hopeful this loose end will be tied up at some point. 

All episodes of Ahsoka as well as all seven seasons of The Clone Wars are available to stream on Disney+. You can also read up on upcoming Star Wars movies and shows, if you’re already craving more galactic stories set in the massive universe.

Warning: SPOILERS for the Ahsoka episode “Shadow Warrior” are ahead!

In last week’s game-changing episode of Ahsoka, titled “Fallen Jedi,” Rosario Dawson’s title character was tossed off the side of a cliff and into the oceans of Seatos after losing her duel with Baylan Skoll. However, rather than drowning just minutes later, Ahsoka Tano found herself in the World Between Worlds, a mysterious location she’d previously visited in Star Wars Rebels. 

This time around, she came face-to-face with her old Jedi Master Anakin Skywalker, reprised by Hayden Christensen, and his presence in this week’s episode, “Shadow Warrior,” paved the way for her to revisit key Clone Wars memories. And yet, while these flashbacks were stellar, I wish this episode also could have revisited a key Rebels moments.

The Clone Wars Events That Were Revisited

Let’s discuss the flashbacks first. After briefly dueling his former apprentice and seeing how skilled she was all these decades later, this Anakin, whether he was the real deal from the great beyond or some projection crafted by the World Between Worlds, he decided to take her back to two key battles from her time in the Clone Wars. This was done almost in a Christmas Carol-style way, with Anakin intending to teach her that she left behind more than just a legacy of “death and war” and convince her to “choose to live.”

First, they visited the Battle of Ryloth, one of the earliest Clone Wars conflicts and among the first times that Anakin and Ahsoka fought together, with the younger version of the latter character being played by Avengers: Infinity War and Barbie’s Arianna Greenblatt. As such, this was also one of the first times Ahsoka experienced the horrors of war, and it was up to Anakin to guide her through this difficult period and teach her how to keep fighting onwards.

Then we visited the Siege of Mandalore, which was the final Clone Wars battle Ahsoka Tano participated in. Although she and Anakin were no longer apprentice and master by this point, they did briefly reunite prior to the battle, as seen in The Clone Wars Season 7, but Anakin didn’t actually take part in it. This Anakin apparition, on the other hand, stuck around and continued chatting with Ahsoka after she’d finished slicing up some Mandalorians allied with Maul. I’d be remiss idk I also didn’t mention that both Clone Wars flashbacks briefly showed off Captain Rex, the Jango Fett clone who became one of Ahsoka Tano’s closest allies.

The Star Wars Rebels Event I Wish Had Been Revisited

And that’s where the flashbacks ended, and while these moments were great, I wish some time had also been dedicated to revisiting Ashoka’s duel with Darth Vader on Malachor, which occurred in the Star Wars Rebels Season 2 finale. This was the first time these two had seen each other since the Clone Wars, and while Ahsoka tried her best to bring the man she once knew as Anakin back into the light, he resisted. The duel ended with Ahsoka staying behind in the crumbling Sith temple to stall Vader so the Ghost crew could escape. It was only in Rebels Season 4 that viewers learned Ahsoka survived thanks to the Ezra Bridger from the present day period pulling her from that past event into a portal to the World Between Worlds.

Now to be fair, we did get echoes of Darth Vader in “Shadow Warrior,” between the silhouette of the Sith Lord’s cybernetic form being shown a few times, Anakin Skywalker’s eyes turning yellow like they did on Mustafar in Revenge of the Sith, and his lightsaber blade turning from blue to red. Still, it would have been cool to see the Ashoka vs. Vader duel from Rebels be recreated. Obviously having the entirety of their clash probably would have been too much, but even just replicating a few swings and slash in that Malachor temple would have sated my appetite nicely.

In any case, by the end of the new Ahsoka episode, our main protagonist learned the lesson she needed to from Anakin Skywalker and was also rescued from drowning in the real world thanks to Jane Syndulla sensing her presence in Seator’s waters. From there, Ahsoka figured out that she and Huyang could potentially follow Baylan Skoll, Shin Hati and Morgan Elsbeth to that other galaxy by hitching a ride inside a Purrgil, as those space whales can travel through hyperspace on her own. 

With Hera Syndulla staying behind to patch things up with her New Republic superiors, Ahsoka and her droid companion will only be able to rely on each other with finding the captured Sabine Wren and potentially discovering the location of their lost friend Ezra Bridger. Oh, and let’s not forget the inevitable, and unfortunate, reunion with Grand Admiral Thrawn, who served as Star Wars Rebels’ main antagonist in its latter two seasons.

Stream “Shadow Warrior” for yourself with a Disney+ subscription and keep visiting CinemaBlend for more Ahsoka coverage. Learn what else a galaxy far, far away holds in store for the future by consulting our upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows guide.

Disney Plus is already one of the more popular streaming services in the world, but if you are one of the people who doesn’t have it yet, you may be out of excuses. A new Disney Plus deal that provides three months of the ad-supported pier for $1.99 per month just dropped. It’s hard to imagine a better deal for Disney Plus being possible, so it’s absolutely worth taking advantage of.

But then, once you have your super cheap Disney Plus price for the next three months, just what are going to do with it? There’s so much available to watch that honestly the hardest part may be figuring out where to start. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to get your money’s worth out of your new discounted Disney Plus subscription.

The Infinity Saga

There are plenty of original Marvel series available to enjoy on Disney Plus, but if you’re a serious fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, then one of the things that makes Disney Plus special is that it keeps all the existing content in one place. You can watch the first three phases of the MCU, from Iron Man to Avengers: Endgame thanks to the recent addition of The Incredible Hulk and Spider-Man: Homecoming, two movies that hadn’t been on the service until recently due to rights issues. You can even include all the One Shot live-action shorts that were originally released as DVD extras.

That’s 22 movies. Limit yourself to one a day, and you’ll still use up most of your first month of Disney Plus working your way through the franchise. Once you’re done with that, you can get started on Phase 4 and enjoy all the series and additional movies that have come out since then.

The Complete Life Of Ahsoka Tano 

Maybe the reason you decided to pick up Disney Plus now is that you heard you could watch Ahsoka, the newest Original show. But just who the heck is Ahsoka Tano? If you didn’t watch the Star Wars animated series The Clone Wars or Rebels then there’s a lot you don’t know about this new show, but guess what? Disney Plus has you covered.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars originally ran for six seasons on TV, then got a seventh and final season exclusive to Disney Plus. Star Wars: Rebels ran for an additional four seasons on top of that. That’s a lot of TV, but you now have access to all of it, and if you get started, you can catch up before Ahsoka runs its final episode and enjoy it with all the rest of the fans. 

The Little Mermaid (And The Rest Of Disney's Live-Action Remakes) 

Disney’s newest box office hits, the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid, has now arrived on exclusively on Disney Plus. If you didn’t catch the movie in theaters, or let’s be honest, even if you did, you’ll want to give it a watch from the comfort of your own home. That way you won’t embarrass yourself singing along.

But why stop there? Disney has made so many remakes over the years that there are plenty of these movies to watch. Even if you just limit yourself to the ones from the Disney Renaissance era you can enjoy Beauty and the Beast, Mulan, and The Lion King after you watch Ariel. 

Elemental And Other Overlooked Pixar Movies 

During the global pandemic streaming services were a big way that studios got their content out to viewers. Disney tried using a “Premiere Access” model with several movies, where the movie was released in theaters and on Disney Plus, for an added fee, at the same time. In a potentially nice move for families, however, several Pixar movies were released exclusively to the streaming service for no extra charge.

This means that if you didn’t have Disney Plus back then, you likely have never seen the likes of Soul, Luca, or Turning Red. All three of them are solid movies worth your time. The same goes for Lightyear which box office numbers indicate you probably didn’t go see in theaters.  Finally, there’s Pixar’s newest movie Elemental, an absolutely beautiful romance that is hitting service during the three-month promotional period on September 13.

The Imagineering Story 

If you’re a Disney fan then there’s a good chance you’ve been to a Disney theme park at least once. If you’ve been to a Disney theme park, there’s a good chance you’ve said the words “How did they do that?” at least once. The answer, is Walt Disney Imagineering, one of the most unique business units in the world.

The Imagineering Story is a documentary series by Leslie Iwerks, the granddaughter of Mickey Mouse co-creator Ub Iwerks, and it tells the story of the history of Imagineering in a way only Disney can. It’s compelling and exciting, and likely to leave even the most diehard Disney fan with some new details about their favorite parks and attractions.

Bluey 

If you have young kids, then Disney Plus is a fantastic streaming service because the vast majority of the content is safe for kids of all ages. However, if there’s one particular show you need to check out, it’s Bluey. The Australian animated series about a family of dogs has become an absolute monster hit Stateside, and it’s one of those great shows that might be designed for kids, but there is plenty there for the grown-ups as well.

There’s so much there for grown-ups, in fact, that even if you don’t have kids, maybe give Bluey a look anyway. Trust us, there’s a good chance it will make you laugh out loud and capture your heart. Go enjoy the kid’s show. We won’t tell anybody.

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The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse 

As Walt Disney himself said, “It was all started by a mouse.” Considering that Mickey Mouse is nearly as old as the Walt Disney Company itself, there are literally decades of cartoon shorts, TV shows, documentaries, and more, about the mouse to enjoy, but some of the absolute best Mickey Mouse cartoons have been created fairly recently, and they just came to a close. 

The modern Mickey Mouse shorts began in 2013, before transforming into the Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse, ongoing series of cartoon shorts and specials. There are over 100 of the cartoons that bring Mickey back to his zaniest roots. They are so much fun and will keep you laughing for hours.

Unless you sit and binge-watch everything on this list straight through, all these great shows and movies will probably take you quite some time to complete. And once you do, there’s likely to be something else to catch your eye. It certainly won’t be too hard to get your money’s worth out of paying $1.99 a month for Disney Plus. 

Spoilers for the first two episodes of Disney+’s Ahsoka lie ahead, so read on at your own risk.

Ahsoka finally made its long-anticipated debut, and the two-episode series premiere delivers plenty of Star Wars goodness that’s sure to excite fans. In the lead-up to the show, what had a number of fans most excited about the show was its connections to the animated series Rebels. Of course, given that it’s set within the same timeframe as The Mandalorian, it has connections to that as well. The character of Morgan Elsbeth represents a piece of connective tissue between the two streaming series. Surprisingly though, the latest show just revealed that Morgan has ties to a mythology highlighted in Star Wars: The Clone Wars (which is streamable with a Disney+ subscription). And I’m hoping this link is explored further. 

What Connects Morgan To Star Wars: The Clone Wars?

Morgan Elsbeth – played by Diana Lee Inosanto – debuted in The Mandalorian Season 2 episode “Chapter 13: The Jedi.” Established as the cruel Imperial Magistrate of Calodan on the planet Corvus, she was overthrown due to Ahsoka Tano and Din Djarin’s efforts. Few details have been revealed about Morgan’s backstory at this point, with the most notable arguably being that she once worked for the (now-missing) Grand Admiral Thrawn and helped rebuild the Imperial fleet. It would now seem that there’s more to her than meets the eye, though. 

The series premiere of Ahsoka, “Part One: Master and Apprentice,” sees the titular heroine traveling to an ancient temple and recovering a star map that may lead to Thrawn. She's successful and, later on, Morgan, ex-Jedi Baylan Skoll (Ray Stevenson) and his apprentice Shin Hati (Ivanna Sakhno) all visit the site. It's there that Hati inquires about the history of the location, and Morgan reveals it was built by her ancestors -- the Nightsisters of Dathomir! Interestingly though, when Shin refers to her as a witch, Morgan simply says she's a survivor. 

She does have the powers of a witch, though. In the second episode, "Part Two: Toil and Trouble," Elsbeth rendezvous with Hati and Skoll, after the former retrieves the map from Sabine Wren. It’s there that she uses magic to access the map and reveal where Thrawn might be. All in all, this is a pleasantly surprising tie-in, especially for someone like myself who’s watched Clone Wars and read a few Star Wars comics. And if you’re part of the uninitiated, don’t worry, because we’re going to discuss who these characters are. 

Who Are The Nightsisters And How Do They Factor Into Star Wars Lore?

The Nightsisters or the Witches of Dathomir were introduced decades ago during the Star Wars Expanded Universe continuity, which was eventually deemed non-canon. The group of sorceresses remained in the fold under the Disney era, though, thanks to being introduced into The Clone Wars ahead of Lucasfilm’s sale to Disney. In short, the group are dark Force-users, who channel energy from a substance known as magical ichor, which flows within their planet. The most prominent clan to be depicted in recent SW media is that of the all-powerful Mother Talzin.

Though the sisters have appeared in comics and video games over the past few years, Clone Wars marked their most prominent appearances. That’s because it was revealed that former Sith Asajj Ventress was a native of Dathomir and that Talzin was the mother of Darth Maul and Savage Opress. She was ultimately the one who restored Maul, who was left physically and mentally damaged after his duel with Obi-Wan Kenobi. 

Ultimately, many of the Nightsisters were massacred due to the actions of Count Dooku and General Grievous. This actually tracks with what was already known about Morgan Elsbeth, as Ahsoka Tano revealed on The Mandalorian that her people were wiped out during the Clone Wars. Now, we don’t know if her clan dwelled on Dathomir proper, but it’s possible that they were, at the very least, connected to the denizens of that planet culturally.

Why I’d Love For Ahsoka (Or Another Show) To Dig Deeper Into This Portion Of Morgan’s Backstory

The Nightsister-centric episodes featured on Clone Wars were very intriguing, as they introduced a more unusual side of the galaxy far, far away. In addition, it’s rare that fans get to see pure magic and sorcery (which is somewhat mixed in with the Force) depicted in Star Wars. Now that viewers know of Morgan’s ancestry, I’d love to see that part of her history covered a bit more. Lightsaber battles are sure to play heavily into the remainder of Tano’s series though, amid blade battles, it’d also be great to see her use her supernatural powers in a more defensive way. 

That seems more probable than a cameo from the spirit of Mother Talzin. But again, with the franchise growing in different ways, I don’t see why a production focusing on the remnants of the Nightsisters couldn’t become a reality. Elsbeth could certainly be involved, assuming she survives the events of Ahsoka. Regardless of whether that actually happens though, I’m pleased with the little piece of connective tissue we have.

Ahsoka premieres new episodes on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on Disney+ as part of the 2023 TV schedule. Do yourself a favor and also keep your eyes on upcoming Star Wars TV shows and movies.

This month, the newest live-action Star Wars series hits Disney+. In the past, the shows we’ve seen in live-action from the streaming service have either been about entirely new characters, like The Mandalorian, or connected to the movies that, at this point, we can assume most everybody has seen, like Obi-Wan Kenobi. However, with the Ahsoka TV show, we’re getting something a little different, as the title character has a significant history in the Star Wars galaxy, but almost all of it has been connected to animated series. Some have expressed a fear that if they haven’t watched all of The Clone Wars and Rebels, the events of Ahsoka may not make sense.

If watching seven seasons of Star Wars: The Clone Wars and four seasons of Star Wars: Rebels sounds like fun to you, then by all means, you should do that. Both series are quite good and easily viewable with a Disney+ subscription. If, however, you don’t have that kind of time, then here’s a quick rundown about the key points concerning Ahsoka Tano’s story that will likely be relevant in the new Disney+ series. 

Ahsoka Was The Padawan Of Anakin Skywalker

Ahsoka Tano is introduced in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars movie that preceded the animated series, which fills in the gap between Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. The show follows several characters, most notably the trio of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano.

Young Ahsoka is a Padawan and Yoda assigns her to Anakin Skywalker in the hopes that it will teach the brash Jedi a certain amount of responsibility. He’s not really interested in training anybody at first, but she grows on him (and the audience), and eventually the pair become quite close. She called him Skyguy and he called her Snips due to the way she had a tendency to get snippy with him.

Ahsoka Left The Jedi Order 

The Clone Wars is, in many ways, the story of Ahsoka above all others. We see her grow, change and become a formidable Jedi in her own right. However, Ahsoka begins to become somewhat disillusioned as The Clone Wars go on, and the Jedi take on a more militaristic position, where they had previously been peacekeepers. Eventually, Ahsoka makes the decision to leave the Jedi Order.

This is prompted when she is framed for the murder of a suspected terrorist while they were in Jedi custody. Ahsoka is essentially suspended from the Order while being put on trial. When she is eventually cleared of the charges, the fact that so many people so important to her seemed to believe she was guilty broke what little faith she had left in the Jedi. While Ahsoka would still maintain the ideals of what it meant to be a Jedi, she would no longer hold the name.

Ahsoka Was An Early Part Of The Rebel Alliance 

Star Wars: Rebels was a follow-up animated series that focused on the crew of a starship called the Ghost, made up of Kannan Jarrus, a Jedi who escaped Order 66, and his crew, including pilot Hera Syndulla and a young Mandalorian named Sabine Wren. They also take in a young man named Ezra Bridger, who Kanan realizes is Force sensitive, and he begins to train the boy as a Jedi as best he can. Keep those names in mind as well. We know Hera, Sabine and Ezra are part of the Ahsoka cast, so they will be important.

The crew of the Ghost is part of a loose confederation of people fighting the Empire. They receive and transmit any important information to a go-between they know only by the code name Fulcrum, but at the end of Rebels' first season, it is revealed that Fulcrum is none other than Ahsoka Tano.

Ahsoka Is A Key Part Of The Skywalker Saga

Fighting for the Rebellion, and being one of the few capable of using the Force, of course, puts her up against the Empire's enforcer, Darth Vader. At first, Ahsoka is unaware of the identity of the man behind the mask, but during a key battle between the two, she realizes that she is fighting her former master, making her one of the few that knows his true identity.

But Anakin isn't the only Skywalker with whom Ahsoka is connected. In The Book of Boba Fett, we discover that during the early days of Luke Skywalker's attempt to rebuild a school for Jedi, Ahsoka gave him some assistance. How they met, or how much about their connection they have really shared with each other, has yet to be revealed.

Ahsoka Is On The Hunt For Grand Admiral Thrawn

The latter seasons of Rebels are concerned with the Ghost crew's battle with an Imperial officer named Grand Admiral Thrawn. At the end of the series, Ezra Bridger sends both himself and Thrawn to an unknown part of the galaxy, in an attempt to take Thrawn off the board for the rest of the battle with the Empire. Based on the fact that he does not appear in the Original Trilogy, it appears he succeeded.

However, when we meet the live-action Ahsoka Tano in The Mandalorian, we learn that she is on the hunt for Thrawn. Other references to him in Season 2 of that show would seem to indicate that while he has not yet returned, it is believed he will soon. 

Ahsoka’s Ultimate Fate Is Unclear 

The events of the Ahsoka series will be set somewhere in the period following The Mandalorian Season 2 and before the events of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. That’s a fairly big period, but, while we have seen where the larger story of Star Wars goes, where Ahsoka fits into it all is unclear. The Sequel Trilogy reveals much about what happens to many popular characters, but not Ahsoka.

We hear the voice of Ahsoka (as provided by her animated voice actress, Ashley Eckstein) among the chorus of Jedi encouraging Rey in the finale of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, which would seem to indicate she has become one with the Force, ad all the other Jedi voices we hear are from those we know are dead. So one could deduce that Ahsoka has died by this point, but that’s far from a sure thing. However, it might also indicate that Ahsoka eventually does rejoin the Jedi at some point.

There are a lot of details that you certainly need to watch other Star Wars shows to fully understand. The Ahsoka series is likely to be full of references to them for fans that know them well, but hopefully they won’t be vital to the plot and it won’t be necessary for new viewers to know every detail. 

What is likely is that the Ahsoka series will be key to the planned Star Wars movie directed by Dave Filoni, so it will be a show worth watching even if the movies are really what you care about. With this much backstory, you should be in a good enough position to understand who Ahsoka Tano is when her series begins on August 23.

So far, all of the live-action Star Wars shows that have been released exclusively to Disney+ subscribers have, for the most part, been easily accessible to those who’ve simply watched the Star Wars movies in order. That said, most of these shows also have ties to the animated programs The Clone Wars and Rebels to one degree or another, and the upcoming Ahsoka is kicking things up a notch by focusing on a character who was introduced in the former series and directly follows up on events from the latter series. But can Ahsoka be enjoyed without seeing The Clone Wars and Rebels? One of the executive producers has chimed in on the matter.

With just a few weeks left to go until Ahsoka premieres on Disney+, Lucasfilm executive Carrie Beck was among the people EW interviewed about the series, and one of the topics she addressed was how necessary it is for one to have viewed The Clone Wars and Rebels to follow along with this latest small screen offering from a galaxy far, far away. As Beck explained below, showrunner Dave Filoni did his best to ensure that it’s accessible to newcomers to this corner of the franchise:

Introduced in 2008 in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars movie that preceded the same-named TV series, Ahsoka Tano, voiced in animation by Ashley Eckstein, has become one of the most popular non-movie Star Wars characters. The Clone Wars depicted her teenage years first as Anakin Skywalker’s apprentice, and then striking out on her own after leaving the Jedi Order, and then Rebels explored her as an adult aiding the Rebellion, initially going by the pseudonym Fulcrum. Rosario Dawson has since played the live-action Ahsoka in The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, but because she was a guest-starring character in both shows, one didn’t need to be fully aware of her past.

The Ahsoka show, on the other hand, is a different beast since it’s so heavily leaning on plot threads from Star Wars Rebels, ranging from the title character and Natasha Liu Bordizzo’s Sabine Wren searching for Man Esfandi’s Ezra Bridger, to Lars Mikkelsen’s Grand Admiral Thrawn resurfacing after being forcibly taken to parts unknown by Ezra. But according to Carrie Beck, Dave Filoni, who worked on both The Clone Wars and Rebels, took steps to ensure that people unfamiliar with either of those animated shows will still be able to track what goes down in Ahsoka and not feel lost. Ultimately it’ll be up to the individual to determine whether he successfully pulled this off, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt for Disney+ to release a video that summarizes what happened to Ahsoka in The Clone Wars and Rebels, akin to the Marvel Studios: Legends episodes that tie into new MCU projects.

Regardless of how familiar you are of Ahsoka Tano’s backstory, you’ll be able to follow along with the next chapter of her life when Ahsoka premieres on August 23. Along with the aforementioned actors, the Ahsoka cast includes Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Hera Syndulla, Invanna Sakhno as Shin Hati, Diana Lee Inosanto as Morgan Elsbeth and the late Ray Stevenson as Baylan Skoll.

Star Wars is one of the biggest movie franchises in the galaxy and has grown considerably since A New Hope back in 1978. Each movie, both pre and post-Disney, has its moments that stand out amongst the best these stories have to offer, but there are also some low points. I'm here to talk about both, and maybe share some controversial takes on the best and worst parts of every major movie Star Wars has ever made, after a recent binge with my Disney+ subscription.

Some of these takes tackle the biggest complaints and high points of the franchise, and some capture the moments we don't talk about enough. Surprisingly, Jar Jar Binks did not make the list, but there are a lot of other things we need to talk about from each movie. 

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope

Best Thing: Luke's Destruction Of The Death Star - When it comes to all-time moments in blockbuster cinema, there are few scenes as thrilling as Luke's run in the X-wing to destroy the Death Star. Despite impossible odds, he is able to channel the Force and destroy the Empire's greatest weapon in its arsenal. This might be the top moment in all of Star Wars, period, hence why it's a highlight. 

Worst Thing: Han Stepping On Jabba's Tail - The special edition cuts are controversial for how they altered the originals, but this scene is without question the worst of them all. Han disrespecting Jabba in their meeting and going so far as to step on his tail and injure him is absolutely bonkers, given what we know about Jabba. He kept Han frozen in carbonite for months in his bar for owing him money. I believe Jabba would've thought nothing of having Han killed right then and there for this, money be damned. As such, it's a real lowlight of this movie. 

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

Best Thing: Vader's Reveal To Luke - It's one of the most mind-blowing reveals in movies, to the point that it's been parodied to death. While the impact of Vader revealing he's Luke Skywalker's father isn't felt quite as strongly now as when it first happened in theaters, the scene itself is still so awesome and definitely the high point of one of Star Wars strongest films. 

Worst Thing: Leia Kissing Luke On The Lips - Of course, one of the best Star Wars movies also features the most painful scene in the franchise's history. Leia plants a big kiss on Luke in an effort to make Han jealous early in the movie, and Luke kicks back in an effort to brag. Of course, we find out in Return of the Jedi that they're brother and sister, which makes the whole scene just painfully awkward and not even Mark Hamill joking about it can shake the ick. Of all the things that have been done to change the movie over the years, why hasn't this been removed?

Star Wars Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi

Best Thing: Everything In Jabba's Palace - Jabba The Hutt's palace is, quite possibly, one of the coolest sets in sci-fi history. Some fans might complain about the movie spending around a half-hour in the gangster's palace, but you won't see me doing that. Luke's Rancor fight is great, and Leia killing Jabba is one of Carrie Fisher's best Star Wars scenes. All of this happens in the Jabba scenes, and I think without it, the movie wouldn't have been nearly as good.

Worst Thing: The Ewoks - Stormtroopers are incompetent, and the Empire made plenty of mistakes during the Galactic Civil War. With that said, I've always struggled to suspend my belief enough to buy that a trained army with modern weapons could possibly lose to a bunch of small fuzzy Ewoks using primitive technology. 

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace

Best Thing: The Introduction Of Darth Maul - If you're someone who has watched Star Wars Rebels or read the expanded materials, you already know that Darth Maul is a gift to the universe. Even then, this villain kicked off the prequel trilogy in an awesome way with his unique lightsaber and look that was so frightening I can't help but think he inspired that demon from Insidious. Plus, he killed the immensely powerful Qui-Gon Jinn and set up an arc with Obi-Wan Kenobi. Those who haven't checked out other works with Maul that feature some of his best moments definitely should. 

Worst Thing: Anakin And Padme's Dynamic - I won't go so far as to say that Anakin and Padme's scenes in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace are unrealistic, but they are certainly uncomfortable. Trying to lay the framework for an eventual romance when the characters are 9 and 14 was a weird choice, and I still question why it even had to be established in the first place. Is it so hard to believe this romance waited to blossom until they were both adults? 

Star Wars Episode II: Attack Of The Clones

Best Thing: Seeing The Jedi Council In Action - Star Wars: The Phantom Menace introduced the Jedi Council, and then we went the entire movie without seeing them in action. Attack Of The Clones rectifies that with a massive battle between most of the members and Count Dooku's Separatist droids. We also get the first-ever Yoda lightsaber duel, which still holds up even in these days of modern CGI. 

Worst Thing: Anakin And Padme's Romance Scenes Are Bland - One thing this movie would never be accused of being is a romance film, despite any attempt to make one. The romantic chemistry between Anakin and Padme is minimal and almost painful at times. The best thing I can say about these scenes is that they led to Anakin's iconic rant about hating sand, which has lived on well past the praise for this movie. 

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith

Best Thing: Battle On Mustafar - I've had a theory for a long time that when people say they like the sequel trilogy, what they really mean is they love the Battle on Mustafar. Let's be honest, it's the greatest lightsaber duel in the history of Star Wars cinema, and it will be very hard for any future film to outshine it. It's pretty hard to top any duel in which the loser bursts into flames. 

Worst Thing: The Slaughter Of The Younglings - As Darth Vader, Anakin Skywalker would go on to commit plenty of atrocious acts that far outweigh anything he did in Revenge Of The Sith. The exception, I'd argue, is the slaughter of a multitude of Younglings in the Jedi temple. That alone should've kept him from any redemption he allegedly got down the line, and is a rare display of the true evil of this Skywalker in the movies. 

Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Best Thing: It Led To The Acclaimed Television Series - The television series Star Wars: The Clone Wars might be the best Star Wars show/movie ever made. Dave Filoni's fleshing out of the Clone Wars era led to wonderful characters like Ahsoka Tano, as well as a greater appreciation for the prequel trilogy from fans who craved more information about that time. None of it would exist without the movie, which, as we'll get into, wasn't quite as well respected. 

Worst Thing: It's Not The Quality Of The Acclaimed Television Series - Many people tend to forget The Clone Wars started with a movie, and with good reason. It's one of the most panned movies in the franchise and found widespread criticism for being a movie that relied on knowledge of deep franchise lore, but also had a lame plot geared primarily toward children. The series would find a way to balance that tone in its series run, but the first attempt clearly missed the mark. 

Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens

Best Thing: The Fresh Cast Of Characters - Star Wars: The Force Awakens needed a cast of fresh faces to lead the sequel trilogy, and damn, did they hit the jackpot. Daisy Ridley alone would've been enough to put this cast over the top, but Adam Driver, John Boyega, and Oscar Isaac? That's a solid group to lead a sequel trilogy, regardless of anyone's thoughts on how it all turned out. 

Worst Thing: It Feels Like A Reskinned Version Of A New Hope - The Force Awakens is a good film, but it gets that reputation primarily by being A New Hope with a new cast of characters and many of the original legacy characters. It doesn't do anything to shake up the formula of the original movie, which might be the biggest crime, seeing as it didn't give much for the movies after to build on. 

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Best Thing: Vader's Hallway Scene - If there's one thing the original trilogy could be faulted for, it was how it failed to make Darth Vader look like more than a stiff robot. I mean, yeah, that's what he is, but as more movies went on there was a great disparity between the amazing duelist Anakin Skywalker and the stiff saber-using Darth Vader. This one scene bridged that gap considerably and showed in a very simply scene why Vader was one of the most feared people in the galaxy. 

Worst Thing: CGI Grand Moff Tarkin And Leia - De-aging and digitizing actors is still a controversial process in 2023, and we've gotten better in executing it than when Rogue One: A Star Wars Story came out. Grand Moff Tarkin's scenes are hard to watch, and he almost looks like a caricature of Peter Cushing at times. The Leia scene is easier to overlook since it's so short, but even then, it's far from perfect. I see them as two unfortunate missteps in an otherwise perfect movie. 

Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi

Best Thing: Rey and Kylo Ren Fighting Off The Elite Praetorian Guards - If the duel on Mustafar is the best duel in Star Wars history, I would say this scene from Star Wars: The Last Jedi is a close second. Rey and Kylo Ren coming together to defeat the elite praetorian guards minutes after he killed Snoke is an incredible sequence and some of the best fight choreography in the entire franchise. 

Worst Thing: The Canto Bight Story - Whether you love or hate this movie, there is no denying the Canto Bight adventure that Finn and Rose go on is overly long and a bit unnecessary. After all, they go there looking for a master codebreaker and end up returning with someone completely different. The scene was meant to be like a "cold water" reset, except I felt soggy and without a towel after. 

Solo: A Star Wars Story

Best Thing: The Train Heist - There aren't many exciting moments in Star Wars you can point to that take place without a single lightsaber. The train heist is definitely one of Solo's coolest scenes that bucks that trend and delivers high-flying action for the entire sequence. It also accomplishes this while being relatively low-stakes in relation to all that happens in the universe, and I think we need more of that in the franchise in general. 

Worst Thing: The Necessity To Shoehorn In Han Solo Explanations - Solo: A Star Wars Story wanted to tell the tale of Han Solo and how the famous galactic smuggler came to be. Weirdly enough, it seems like literally every key moment of his life came together in this one adventure. This movie worked a little too hard to explain the key moments of Han's past, and it hurts the movie. 

Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise Of Skywalker

Best Thing: The Reveal That Rey Was A Palpatine - The reveal that Rey is a Palpatine is the absolute mic drop moment of the sequel trilogy. To find out the hero is the descendant of the galaxy's most evil character was incredible and set up Rey in a big way for future Star Wars stories. 

Worst Thing: We Don't Get Much Time With That Reveal - Unfortunately, Star Wars sat on the Rey Palpatine reveal far too long. Fans needed more time to sit with it, and I think if we could go back in time, we'd make this come out in The Last Jedi. Instead, we got it toward the end of the sequel trilogy and the Skywalker saga. The twist was kneecapped and should get more acknowledgment in stories going forward. 

Disney+ is the home for all things Star Wars, be it movies or television. While there's still quite a gap between now and the next movie, this might be a great time to do a rewatch and find the things people like or dislike about each movie. 

The Star Wars franchise that was once exclusive to the big screen has since expanded to include some high-profile live-action TV shows, with The Mandalorian recently wrapping Season 3 just months before Ahsoka is set to debut for Disney+ subscribers. For me, the Star Wars TV journey started well before the Disney streamer even launched, and like many, it was with an animated show. Unlike others, however, my first animated show in the galaxy far, far away was Star Wars Rebels instead of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. And while Clone Wars came first and is better known, I'm glad that I started with Rebels. 

This may not be the typical order to watch the first two Star Wars animated shows, with Clone Wars premiering (packed with prequel characters) in 2008 and Rebels not debuting the crew of the Ghost until 2014. Through a combination of timing, love for a film that can be left out of watching Star Wars movies in order if the focus is just on the Skywalker saga, and not getting more than a few minutes into the Clone Wars movie when it was available to Netflix subscribers, I watched Rebels first. 

For the reasons that I reflected on in honor of May the 4th, I don't think I'd be as big of a Star Wars TV fan as I am today if I hadn't started with the Disney XD show. Warning: spoilers for Star Wars Rebels are below!

The Origin: Why I Watched Rebels Before Clone Wars

Before anything else, join me in looking back to somewhat long ago, in a galaxy not far, far away: 2016, in the wake of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story hitting theaters. The franchise's first standalone movie immediately became one of my favorites, and remains my favorite Disney-era movie of the saga. And I talked about it... a lot, to the point that somebody recommended that I check out this show called Star Wars Rebels that was set around the same era. 

I had my doubts. Rebels aired on Disney XD, which I – as an adult well outside of the network's usual demographic – had never even heard of before. I had also already (and very briefly) tried Star Wars: The Clone Wars before giving up. With the benefit of hindsight, I hope that even longtime Clone Wars fans can forgive me for not getting too deep into the 2008 movie, and I still don't love the animation style.

So, circa late 2016, Clone Wars wasn't for me, but my Rogue One love was strong enough for me to go back, give Rebels a shot from the beginning, and check to see if I even had Disney XD. At the time, Rebels was halfway through its third season – and therefore after the excellent "Twilight of the Apprentice" two-parter that I still think every Star Wars fan should watch – so the timing was pretty great once I caught up. 

Now, with Ahsoka on the way with some live-action versions of animated characters to validate every Rebels fan who ever insisted that it's as worthy as Clone Wars, here's why it made such an impression on me as my first venture into Star Wars TV. 

Rebels Was Set Close To The Original Trilogy

As a fan of the original trilogy since I was watching the VHS box set as a kid and defending Ewoks to my brothers, I was automatically partial to enjoy a story set closer to that era than the prequel trilogy era. The show feels like it belongs in the same world as the original trilogy, with a ragtag group of rebels that included: a former Jedi in hiding as a mentor, a teenager with Force sensitivity, an incredible pilot, a droid with personality, and an incredibly strong crew member with a special weapon. And also Sabine, and what's not to love about Sabine?

There was also a sense that everything would ultimately be okay, since the Empire would fall by the end of Return of the Jedi (and Rise of Skywalker hadn't released yet), even if the survival of most of the show's characters wasn't guaranteed. Throw in the animation style that struck me as more akin to the original trilogy than the prequels and the fact that I hadn't seen Clone Wars to give me any expectations, and Rebels had me hooked. 

Rebels Focused On A Core Group Of Characters

Like the original trilogy, this TV show focused on a set group of characters against a larger backdrop of rebellion, telling their ongoing stories and building relationships over four seasons instead of jumping around as an anthology. Kanan Jarrus quickly became a favorite, which is saying something for me as somebody who often prefers non-Jedi characters! Why else would I love Rogue One more than 2/3 of the prequel trilogy?

Plus, for all the general similarities between the Ghost crew of Spectres and the likes of Luke, Leia, Han, and Co., they're not interchangeable to the point of feeling repetitive. The love story was between Kanan and Hera as the Jedi and the pilot. There was a multi-generation family dynamic, no secret twin reveals, and Chopper with a higher body count than R2-D2 and C-3PO combined. 

These characters and their serialized story had me hooked enough that I was happy to go along for the ride... and ignore what was almost certainly going to happen to Kanan as the Force-sensitive mentor who definitely wasn't around in the original trilogy.

Rebels Introduced Me To Clone Wars Characters

Clone Wars fans who watched Rebels second might be appalled by this, but I had no idea who Ahsoka Tano was, and might not have suspected that she was a huge deal in her first Rebels appearance if the soundtrack hadn't swelled. And when the former clone troopers appeared in Season 2, I didn't have a clue that Captain Rex had a long history already. Rebels invested me in characters enough to want to check out their original series, and I therefore watched Clone Wars once I ran out of the story of the Spectres. 

Plus, given that I still vastly prefer serialized and even episodic television to anthology, knowing and loving Ahsoka and Rex helped get me through some of the rougher patches of The Clone Wars once I started that series. I've come to enjoy that show as much as anybody and was thrilled that Disney+ gave it the ending it deserved, but I hope we can all agree that for all the very high highs of Clone Wars, there were some very low lows. 

I would even argue that Rebels was better from start to finish than Clone Wars was, but that's an argument for a different day. Rebels set me up to enjoy its predecessor, and therefore make me appreciate the prequel era of Star Wars more than I did before. 

Star Wars Rebels Was A Great Story

Were there some less-than-stellar episodes in Star Wars Rebels? Sure, but I would say that what the show did well was create a cohesive story that enriched the Star Wars universe with original characters instead of just filling in blanks with characters whose futures I already knew thanks to the movies. I'll go down with the (star)ship that Kanan got one of the coolest deaths of the entire Star Wars saga, and was an example of the franchise doing something fresh with a Jedi character... even if he did still follow the Star Wars tradition of Jedi mentors dying.

Plus, Thrawn is just a great villain, and I found the Grand Inquisitor far more menacing in Rebels than Obi-Wan. On the whole, I truly hope that the arrival of Ahsoka will motivate more people to try out Rebels, even if they can't watch it first like I did. Dave Filoni even shared his thoughts on whether the Disney+ show will just be Star Wars Rebels Season 5! You can also check out Star Wars Rebels now without waiting for Ahsoka with all four seasons streaming on Disney+. 

The term “Geek Goddess” — used to describe a female actor who has been involved in many popular or cult genre movie and TV shows — is one practically synonymous with Katee Sackhoff, who has certainly come a long way from her major motion picture debut in the most critically reviled of the Halloween movies, 2002’s Halloween: Resurrection. At this point in her career, the simple announcement of her casting in a project is enough to get a rise out of legions of fans, which is why it is hard to believe that she has not played a Marvel character (at least in a live-action title) yet. 

The most recent example of her mastery in genre acting can be seen in how she plays Bo-Katan Kryze on the hit Disney+ original TV show, The Mandalorian, which is actually not the only series spun-off from the Star Wars franchise on which she has portrayed the resident, intergalactic bounty hunter. The role is also merely the latest example of the many great performances Sackhoff has given in the more two decades she has been acting, but Bo-Katan is where we shall start.

Bo-Katan Kryze (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, The Mandalorian)

The character of Bo-Katan Kryze — a character very important to the history of Mandalorian culture — was first introduced during the fourth season of the hit animated series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and was voiced by Katee Sackhoff. In the same year the George Lucas-created show had its final season, the actor became one of the first (and few) actors to reprise their animated Star Wars character in a live-action setting in the second season of The Mandalorian, for which she would don a red wig and add another layer of complexity and grit to the role, especially when she became a series regular in Season 3. 

Kara "Starbuck" Thrace (Battlestar Galactica)

One of Sackhoff’s earliest and most esteemed trips into space is also the site of one of her most complex, grittiest, and most iconic roles yet — and one she fought hard for. On Ronald D. Moore’s reimagining of Glen A. Larson’s short-lived, cult favorite sci-fi series from the 1970s, the actor gives one of her most acclaimed performances as Lt. Kara “Starbuck” Thrace — a gender-swapped reinterpretation of Dirk Benedict’s character from the original. While mirroring the rebellious and cocky nature of Benedict’s portrayal, Sackhoff’s Starbuck would grow to be an even more popular figure of the franchise who is defined more for her resilience in the face of chaos and for her own flaws.

Dahl (Riddick)

A few years after the end of Battlestar Galactica, Sackhoff returned to outer space, but in a much different corner of the galaxy and for a role that is easily a standout in 2013’s Riddick — and not just because she is the only female character with a major speaking part. You can actually see a lot of Starbuck in the actor’s performance as Dahl — yet another outer space bounty hunter role on her resume — with her short-temper and impressive skills in hand-to-hand combat. She is one of the main reasons why the third installment of the Vin Diesel-led sci-fi franchise is my personal favorite… so far, until Riddick 4, anyway.

Niko Breckenridge (Another Life)

Just a year before reprising Bo-Katan on The Mandalorian, Katee Sackhoff made yet another return to space, but in a whole new kind of role unlike her previous characters away from earth. She leads the cast of the Netflix original sci-fi TV show, Another Life, as Niko Breckenridge — an astronaut forced to leave her husband and daughter behind when she is enlisted to lead a mission to investigate the origin of an alien artifact that recently made contact with the planet. While this would mark a slight turning point for Sackhoff in terms of her character’s overall demeanor, Niko is nonetheless the Number One reason to watch the series.

Victoria "Vic" Moretti (Longmire)

Sackhoff’s first Netflix exclusive series saw her invoke many of the same gritty, heroic sensibilities of her sci-fi characters, but while keeping her feet planted firmly on the ground. In Longmire, one of the best Neo-Western TV shows in recent memory, she plays Victoria “Vic” Moretti — a Philadelphia detective who, after following her husband to Wyoming, becomes deputy to Robert Taylor’s titular sheriff. Vic’s street smarts come in handy when dealing with some of the harsher crimes that she and Longmire face, but she also proves to be vulnerable when her personal life gets in the way.

Marie Russell (Oculus)

I mentioned at the top how Sackhoff’s first break in the horror genre with a role in Halloween: Resurrection did not result in the best movie on her resume, but her luck would change when she collaborated with Mike Flanagan. The writer and director’s first mainstream hit one, and of his best movies, 2013’s Oculus, is the story of a brother and sister (Brenton Thwaites and Karen Gillan) and their investigation into a mysterious mirror that they believe is responsible for their traumatic childhood. In flashbacks, we learn that their mother, played Sackhoff, fell prey to the insidious supernatural artifact, evolving her from the loving woman she once was into a violent murderer.

Amunet Black (The Flash)

Marie Russell is far from Sackhoff’s most iconic villainous character. That easily goes to her recurring role on The CW’s hit DC Comics-based TV show, The Flash, as Amunet Black — a meta human otherwise known as Leslie Jocoy who uses her power of magnetokinesis (which allows her to manipulate metallic substances) to develop a reputation as one of Crystal City’s most ruthless crime bosses. However, what makes this recurring role such a standout on the Arrow-verse set series and in the actor’s career in general is her deliciously scenery-chewing portrayal, complete with a hilariously over-the-top British accent.

BONUS: Kimberly (Power Rangers)

I could not complete this list without at least a mention of Sackhoff’s striking and even heartbreaking performance in a role originated by Amy Jo Johnson on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. This 15-minute short film by acclaimed music video director Joseph Kahn reimagines the ‘90s childhood favorite as gritty, graphically violent dystopian drama that I wish we could one day see adapted as a feature-length film, especially with Sackhoff as the grown-up pink ranger, Kimblerly — a character she now owns, as far as I am concerned, for the way she redefines it with such a refreshing believability.

Needless to say, I am very much looking forward to see what Katee Sackhoff brings us next, whether that means seeing more of Bo-Katan Kryze or something entirely new.

During the long gap between The Mandalorian’s Season 2 finale and its Season 3 premiere, fans envisioned all manner of antagonistic scenarios that could occur between Pedro Pascal’s Din and Katee Sackhoff’s Clone Wars vet Bo-Katan, with the elusive Darksaber as the grand prize. But that’s not what Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni had in mind, at least not yet, as thoes with Disney+ subscriptions witnessed a far less aggressive Bo-Katan in “The Apostate,” as she seemed intent to lounge her days away in her throne. (Much to some fans’ enjoyment.) A return to badassery ensued in Ep. 302, but after gaining possession of the Darksaber during the rescue mission, she surprisingly chose to return it to its current owner without any messy-mess. 

Bo-Katan seemed to be more emotionally invested in Mando never having Pog soup before than she did about taking over Darksaber duties, and Katee Sackhoff herself explained there’s a reason her character doesn’t appear to be as driven by Darksaber motivations as viewers may have thought. Here’s how she put it to Deadline:

In any situation where fighting and violence are used as a means of leadership, barring the most heinous exceptions, there comes a point where enough is recognized to be enough. And for Bo-Katan, it wasn’t just a case of beating a dead horse, as it were, where her actions led her to a status quo plateau, but rather that so many of her choices caused measurable damage for those following her, as well as herself. 

As such, she’s taken some time to reflect, and is now focused more on learning from history rather than repeating it. In Sackhoff’s words:

So if everything she'd attempted before only led to bad things and ruin, then Bo-Katan was left to mull over how to change her approach into something completely new. And by all means, sitting on a throne like a damned legend seemed to be working well enough without destroying anything. When asked about the timing of Bo-Katan's shift in attitude about the Darksaber, Katee Sackhoff said:

Not only does Bo-Katan reverse her initial Ep. 302 stance of not joining Mando on his Mandalore quest, but she instantly jumped to attention upon realizing he was in danger. She even used the Darksaber as part of her rescue efforts, which would be as suitable a reason as any to just take control of the weapon anew. But that might have meant losing Mando as a friend in arms, and she's not about losing people anymore. Plus, after seeing that giant eyeball, she now realizes that her previous assumptions about the planet may not have been so accurate, which may result in another shift in Bo-Katan's mindset.

The Battlestar Galactica vet spoke previously about wanting Season 3 to explore the reasoning behind why she didn’t forcibly take the Darksaber from Din in the Season 2 finale. And more recently shared how honored she felt for The Mandalorian's Jon Favreau and others to ask for her personal Bo-Katan input, so it looks like she’s getting exactly what she was hoping for.

What's coming next, and when will Giancarlo Esposito's Moff Gideon re-enter the story? Be sure to watch The Mandalorian's new episodes streaming every Wednesday on Disney+.

Even in this golden era of live-action Jedi shows, Star Wars: The Clone Wars remains an acclaimed and highly relevant series after its ending. Fans recently saw that when a character popped up in Andor and will continue to see the series’ impact as one of its most notable original characters, Ahsoka Tano, gets her own series. As we prepare to celebrate more Star Wars in the new year, Columbia has a stunning collection of parkas, jackets, and pullovers any fan would want. 

Columbia has just the winter collection for any Star Wars: The Clone Wars fan wishing to support the Republic before the winter season. The sale is set to commence online and in select stores on Friday, December 2nd at midnight, and is expected to sell out. With that in mind, be sure to act soon and take advantage of these out-of-this-world designs before they’re gone. 

Ahsoka Tano Jacket

As previously mentioned, Rosario Dawson will reprise her role from The Mandalorian for her own Ahsoka series. Now, anyone interested can keep warm this holiday season with Columbia’s Ahsoka jacket, which is based on the one she wore on Carlac. In addition to the standard quality features of a luxury jacket, Star Wars fans will notice the pointed hood design and the internal print mimicking the design of her Montrals.

Republic Parka

I know that Hoth is an area more closely tied to the original trilogy, but I can’t help but think about it by looking at these Republic Parkas. If only Anakin and Obi-Wan managed to stick together following the end of the Clone Wars, they might’ve taken a trip there in these warm parkas, which have the Republic and Jedi insignias on the jacket. With a blue and white option, multiple pockets, and an adjustable hood, and removable faux fur, this definitely feels like a functional winter parka fit for a Jedi. 

Republic Heavyweight Pullover

If the price point of the above jackets makes it hard to afford that Disney+ subscription, Star Wars fans may find the heavyweight pullover a more attractive and cost-effective option. With designs in blue and white and a Jedi insignia on the chest, this would be a great gift for any Star Wars fan to show their love of the franchise. 

Republic Ball Cap

Last, but certainly not least, Star Wars fans can snag a Republic ball cap in the blue or white style with the Jedi insignia on the top. I can’t say I’ve ever seen someone rocking a baseball hat in Star Wars, but that sure would’ve helped Luke Skywalker better shield his eyes from those Tattooine suns back in the day. 

Visit Columbia’s Star Wars landing page for more details on the jackets, and to be ready to buy when the sale goes live at midnight on Friday, December 2nd. Anyone done with that can also look up some of our awesome recommendations for Star Wars holiday decorations, just in case, they’re looking to go all out celebrating the franchise this season.

Although the critically-acclaimed Andor spotlights Diego Luna’s Cassian Andor approximately half a decade before the events of Rogue One, for the first six episodes of this new Star Wars show, the only other established character who’d appeared is Genevieve O’Reilly’s Mon Mothma. That changed with the latest episode, “Announcement,” though only Disney+ subscribers who are fans of Star Wars: The Clone Wars and/or Star Wars Rebels are likely to have recognized this individual. Folks, we have another Wullf Yularen sighting!

In the opening minutes of “Announcement,” Colonel Wulff Yularen, played by Casino Royale and V for Vendetta actor Malcolm Sinclair, is shown speaking before the top brass of the Imperial Security Bureau (ISB), informing them of how the Empire will be responding in the aftermath of the heist that took place on Aldhani, including levying a tribute tax five times the amount that was stolen “on any sector harboring partisan activity,” as well as “the use of any local custom, festival or tradition as cover for rebel activity” triggering “immediate revocation of Imperial tolerance.” Yularen concluded his address by sharing that steps were being taken to enact harsher punishments against any criminal act directed at the Empire, be it directly or indirectly.

For those of you who enjoy watching the Star Wars movies in order and the live-action shows, but haven’t checked out any of the franchise’s animated programming, Wulff Yularen, voiced by Tom Kane in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels, was an admiral in the Republic Navy who led Anakin Skywalker’s fleet during the Clone Wars. When the Empire rose to power, Yularen was promoted to colonel and made the leader of the ISB. Yularen was also retroactively made to be the Imperial officer played by Robert Clarke in A New Hope who was at the meeting where Darth Vader choked Admiral Motti for his “lack of faith” in the Force. As such, Yularen met his demise when Luke Skywalker destroyed the Death Star.

To casual Star Wars fans, Malcolm Sinclair’s Wulff Yularen is just another high-ranking Imperial officer for them to watch deliver exposition. For Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels fans though, his appearance is a nice connective thread to the wider mythology of a galaxy far, far away. It’s hard to say if we’ll see Yularen again during the remainder of Andor Season 1 or at some point during the already-ordered Season 2, though given his position in the Imperial hierarchy and how much this show is focusing on Dedra Meero’s work in the ISB, I’d like to think his chances of returning are strong.

New episodes of Andor premiere Wednesdays on Disney+, but if you’re looking further ahead into the future, browse through the lineup of upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows.

The Star Wars universe is infinite, as one can easily tell from the countless movies and TV shows dedicated to offering the saga’s complete story. There is a lot to catch up on when you’re not learning about the upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows, whether you watch these projects on physical media, digitally or stream them with a Disney+ subscription. But how do they follow the timeline?

Well, you could either enjoy all of the Star Wars movies and TV shows in order by their original release date, or you could trace the entire Skywalker Saga (as it has come to be referred to) in chronological order. In our opinion, however you choose to experience this enduringly popular, action-packed and inspiring story should mainly depend on your familiarity with it.

If You Have Not Seen The Star Wars Movies And TV Shows Before

If you happen to be among the Younglings who still have much (or all there is, more accurately) to learn about Star Wars, don’t worry. We won’t judge you. However, we do believe that the best way to finally become a fan of the saga is to experience it the same way most diehard fans have: watching the films and TV shows in the order they were released.

If You Have Seen The Star Wars Movies And TV Shows Already

For those who have received the proper training to almost be called a Jedi Master (translation: “already watched all of the Star Wars movies and TV shows released so far”), perhaps it is time, if you have not already, to experience the saga in its “proper” form. Try reliving all of the most exciting key moments of the long-running franchise in chronological order. This will certainly help you become a master of following the continuity, which can be tricky unless you look through our guide below.

Star Wars Movies And TV Shows In Order By Release Date

Allow us to explain the proper order of all the older and latest Star Wars movies and TV shows confirmed as canon, so far, as clearly as possible for you, here. First, however, we will list all titles in the order of their release, for those who may prefer to experience the full saga that way.

• Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)
• Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
• Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983)
• Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)
• Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002)
• Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005)
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008-2020)
• Star Wars Rebels (2014)
• Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015)
• Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
• Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017)
• Star Wars Resistance (2018-2020)
• Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
• The Mandalorian (2019-Present)
• Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
• Star Wars: The Bad Batch (2021-Present)
• Star Wars: Visions (2021-present)
• The Book of Boba Fett (2021-2022)
• Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022)
• Andor (2022-present)
• Star Wars: Tales Of The Jedi (2022)
• Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures (2023-present)
• Ahsoka (2023-present)
• Star Wars: Tales Of The Empire (2024)
• The Acolyte (2024)
• Skeleton Crew (2023-present)

Star Wars Movies And TV Shows In Chronological Order

SPOILER WARNING: Do you have a bad feeling about this article – particularly that we will give away crucial details about the entire Star Wars franchise on screen? You would be correct in trusting that instinct, as we will be getting into spoilers beyond this point. If you are not caught up on all the movies and TV shows in the timeline, proceed with caution and may the Force be with you.

Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures (2023-present)

Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures’ placement in the canon is debatable since this is a show geared towards preschoolers. However, assuming everything that happens within it can be officially placed on the timeline, then this is the earliest entry yet when it comes to Star Wars movies and TV shows. Young Jedi Adventures is set during the High Republic era, i.e. hundreds of years before the main Star Wars movies, and focuses on Yoda training a group of younglings in the ways of the Force. Two seasons of the show have aired so far, first being released on Disney+, then airing on Disney Junior.

The Acolyte (2024)

The Acolyte takes place at the tail end of the High Republic era, roughly 100 years before the events of The Phantom Menace, making it the earliest live-action entry on the franchise’s timeline released so far. The Disney+ series follows twin sisters Osha and Mae, who are revealed to have been born through a "vergence" in the Force that could create life, and essentially the same person. While the rest of The Acolyte's main cast is also comprised of new characters, it does feature the first appearance of Darth Plagueis and a silent Yoda cameo. The show was cancelled after just one season.

Star Wars: Tales Of The Jedi (2022)(Count Dooku's Story)

Both Tales of the Jedi and Tales of the Empire are outliers in the Star Wars saga because as anthology series, they not only follow multiple characters, but also explore numerous time periods. As such, these shows don't have one dedicated spot on the Star Wars timeline, so it’s best to break them down by each character’s story.

For the most part, Count Dooku’s Tales of the Jedi story (which raises a big question about Yoda) in Season 1 is set prior to The Phantom Menace, with Star Wars fans following along with the character as a younger man in his Jedi Knight days and eventually taking on Qui-Gon Jinn as his apprentice, and eventually learning how he became disillusioned with the Jedi Order. That being said, the story does chronicle events that happened after the first Prequel Trilogy installment, with Dooku learning about Qui-Gon’s death and cementing his status as Darth Sidious' apprentice.

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)

The origins of George Lucas’ Skywalker Saga (before it was even collectively referred to by that name) were revealed in its “first” episode. Set years before the events of the 1977 original, The Phantom Menace, the first chapter of the Star Wars movies’ prequel trilogy (which has its good moments), depicts a more peaceful time in a galaxy far, far away, but not for long.

After Jedi Knight Qui-Gon Jinn and his padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi narrowly escape the hostility of an evil trade federation, they must then aid the planet of Naboo by protecting their queen, which takes them to Tatooine, where they meet a boy named Anakin Skywalker. The Jedi take him under their wing, believing him to be destined to bring balance to the Force. They will one day be proven right, but not in the sense they anticipated.

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack Of The Clones (2002)

Ten years after defeating Darth Maul to avenge the slain Qui-Gon Jinn at the conclusion of The Phantom Menace, Obi-Wan Kenobi is now a Jedi Knight training a grown, sand-hating Anakin Skywalker as his Padawan in the second chapter of the Star Wars movies prequel trilogy. Following a failed assassination attempt on Senator Padmé Amidala, Obi-Wan investigates the matter and discovers a secret army of clones modeled after Jango Fett, a bounty hunter with a son named Boba.

Meanwhile, Anakin finds himself falling in love with Padmé, despite the Jedi’s forbiddance of romance. The pair visit Anakin’s home planet to find his mother dead, igniting a murderous hunger for vengeance against the Tuscan Raiders who killed her. Fortunately, the story concludes with Anakin and Padmé returning to aid Obi-Wan and Mace Windu in a civil war within the Galactic Republic. After seemingly defeating the manipulative forces of the Sith once again, Anakin and Padmé wed – the only witnesses being their trusted droids C-3PO and R2-D2.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008-2020)

The continuation of a theatrical film that expands the history of the Clone Wars, this acclaimed animated Star Wars TV show takes place between the events of Episode II and Episode III. Yoda, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Mace Windu, Anakin Skywalker and his new apprentice Ahsoka Tano are among the many Jedi battling against the Separatist droid army.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars also marks the unexpected return of Darth Maul, who is now a partially mechanical being after his natural bottom half was claimed by Obi-Wan in Episode I. The series also includes other established characters from previous Star Wars movies and TV shows, and paves a clearer path between the Prequel Trilogy and the original films by deeply exploring the much-referenced Clone Wars. It also introduces several now fan-favorite characters, like the ruthless bounty hunter Cad Bane.

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge Of The Sith (2005)

Three years into the Clone Wars, Jedi Knight and soon-to-be father Anakin Skywalker’s commitment to the Light Side hangs by a thread as Palpatine slowly and insidiously lures him to the Dark Side. He shows his allegiance to the Sith by helping Palpatine (revealed to be Darth Sidious) wipe out the Jedi – even the younglings – under his new title: Darth Vader.

Obi-Wan reluctantly defeats Vader (making for arguably the best lightsaber duel), leaving him burned by lava and losing all but one of his extremities, but fails to foil the Sith’s overtaking of the Galactic Republic, now reformed into the Empire. Vader is given a mechanical suit that helps him breathe and walk, but immediately after, he learns that his wife Padmé has died. Before that though, she gave birth to twins, Luke and Leia. Leia is adopted by Bail Organa on Alderaan, and Luke sent to live with his aunt and uncle on Tatooine, where Obi-Wan promises to keep close watch over the boy.

Star Wars: Tales Of The Jedi (2022)(Ahsoka Tano's Story)

It’s not possible to put Ahsoka Tano’s Tales of the Jedi story in a solidified spot on this list. We go from seeing her being born, to her Force abilities awakening as an infant, to being put through a rigorous training exercise by Anakin Skywalker during the Clone Wars, to hiding from the Empire in the aftermath of Order 66 and being forced to battle an Inquisitor.

So because Ahsoka’s story stretches as far as immediately after Revenge of the Sith, that’s the safest place to put it on here. Just know that you’ll really be following along with her across the entire span of the Prequel Trilogy and a little into the Empire’s early reign.

Star Wars: The Bad Batch (2021-2024)

Set during the aftermath of the Clone Wars, this Disney+ original animated series follows a group of genetically engineered clone troopers, all of whom are played by prolific voice actor Dee Bradley Baker. Struggling to understand why they, unlike everyone else of their kind, sided with the Jedi, they embark on a quest to learn the truth.

The show a unique and exciting follow-up to the acclaimed Star Wars: The Clone Wars series featuring appearances by a few fan favorite characters, such as Fennec Shand, Cad Bane and even Asajj Ventress, as well as explored why the Empire stopped using the clone troopers, and revealing that Omega wasn’t the only female Jango Fett clone. The series ended in May 2024 after three seasons.

Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

Set a decade or so into the First Galactic Empire’s rule, Solo: A Star Wars Story follows young aspiring pilot Han, whose dream to leave his home planet takes him on a journey involving tours with the Imperial infantry, smuggling an energy source called coaxium for crime syndicate Crimson Dawn, and making the Kessel Run in under 12 parsecs.

We also learn how Han was given his last name, how his ability to speak Wookiee earned him the respect of the pit beast who almost killed him named Chewbacca, that his former girlfriend Qi’ra turned out to be an employee of Darth Maul, and managed to claim the Millennium Falcon by beating Lando Calrissian in a card game. So essentially, everything you may or may not have needed to know (or already did know from previous Star Wars movies) about Han Solo is revealed.

Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022)

Set a decade or so after the Galactic Empire’s rise, Obi-Wan Kenobi now goes by “Ben” on Tatooine – where he still keeps a close eye on young Luke Skywalker, much to the chagrin of his protective uncle Owen and aunt Beru. Despite having little hope for or interest in the growing resistance, he is forced to rediscover his warrior ways when Bail Organa informs him that his adoptive daughter, Leia, has been kidnapped.

However, the kidnapping is a trap set by the ruthless inquisitor Reva in hopes to earn the respect of Darth Vader, whom she is secretly seeking vengeance against for murdering younglings like her years earlier. Struggling to ensure Leia’s safety and that of the resistance fighters he received help from along the way, Kenobi realizes he must face Vader himself in a shocking, deeply sorrowful duel. Reva also rediscovers her own goodness by sparing the life of her enemy’s young biological son, Luke, whom Kenobi also gets to officially meet for the first time before being reunited with the Force Ghost of his slain master, Qui-Gon Jinn.

Tales Of The Empire (2024) (Barriss Offee's Story)

In the final episodes of Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 5, Barriss Offee, Luminara Undula’s former apprentice and close friend to Ahsoka Tano, carried out a series of bombings in Coruscant after becoming disillusioned with the Jedi Order. She was eventually arrested for her crimes, and Tales of the Empire showed her being freed from prison after Order 66 in order to become one of the Empire’s Inquisitors. It’s unclear how much of a time jump occurred between the second and third episodes, but given what happens with Fourth Sister, it’s best to put this after Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Star Wars Rebels (2014-2018)

Yet another animated Star Wars TV show to bridge the gap between subsequent films of the Skywalker Saga, Star Wars Rebels sees the Galactic Empire at the peak of its rule. As it increases its efforts to hunt and eliminate the last of the Jedi Knights in hiding, a rebellion begins to take form.

This Emmy-nominated series follows a crew previously unfamiliar to the Star Wars universe who take it upon themselves to stand up against the Empire. This ensues much death-defying conflict against a few of the saga’s most iconic figures, including Darth Maul. Some of Rebels' important characters also go on to appear in Disney+'s live-action Star Wars shows, including The Mandalorian and Ahsoka.

Andor (2022-present)

Beginning 15 years after the rise of the Empire, Andor points the spotlight on Diego Luna’s Cassian Andor, who goes on to play an important role in Rogue One. While we know how Cassian’s story ends, Andor winds the clock back to show how the former thief became involved with the Rebel Alliance. This series also features Mon Mothma, one of the Rebellion's key leaders, in a prominent role, but the majority of the series’ characters are brand-new to a galaxy far, far away. This includes Adria Arjona's Bix Caleen, Stellan Skarsgård's Luthen Raeland even Andy Serkis returning to the franchise as Kino Loy following his time in the Sequel Trilogy as Snoke.

Andor was created by Tony Gilroy, who co-wrote Rogue One with Chris Weitz. Season 1 finished in November 2022 and it will return for a second and final season. Among the things we know about Andor Season 2 is that it will cover the entire four years leading directly into Rogue One, and it's set to premiere on April 22.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

In this prequel to the original Star Wars trilogy disguised as a spinoff, Jyn Erso has been on her own since childhood after her scientist father was forced to abandon his family to assist the Galactic Empire. Years later, she reluctantly joins a ragtag group of rebels at an especially pressing time for its cause.

After Jyn discovers that her father had intentionally designed a moon-sized weapon for the Empire with a debilitating flaw, her newfound sense of hope inspires her to pass the information to the resistance, which sets in motion the rebellion’s most important mission yet: steal the plans to the weapon, known as the Death Star. Rather than getting a happy ending, Jyn and her crew, spontaneously dubbed “Rogue One,” all lose their lives in honor of the mission, but not before successfully intercepting and transmitting the Death Star plans to the Rebellion’s ally, Princess Leia Organa.

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)

Picking up immediately after the events of Rogue One, Star Wars: Episode IV sees Darth Vader and the Empire threatened by “a new hope” as droids C-3PO and R2-D2 escape to Tatooine to deliver a message from Princess Leia to Obi-Wan “Ben” Kenobi. They cross paths with an aged Ben through their new owner, Luke Skywalker, who then discovers he is a Jedi with abilities passed down from his father, Anakin Skywalker.

They then enlist Millennium Falcon pilot Han Solo and his Wookiee companion, Chewbacca, to rescue Leia and bring her to the safe hands of the Rebel Alliance. Despite losing Obi-Wan to a lightsaber duel with Darth Vader, the crew succeeds and joins the Rebel Alliance in a battle that results in the destruction of the Death Star. Luke, Han, Chewie, C-3PO, and R2-D2 are rewarded by Leia for their efforts in defiance of the Empire.

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

The Rebel Alliance suffers the Empire’s vengeful attack at their headquarters on the ice planet of Hoth in the set up for the Star Wars movies’ first sequel that continues to chronicle the war for peace across the galaxy. Luke Skywalker flees with R2-D2 to Dagobah to seek Jedi training from Master Yoda while Han, Leia, Chewbacca, and C-3PO seek refuge at Cloud City – governed by Han’s old acquaintance Lando Calrissian.

Unfortunately, the rebels are thwarted by the Empire, who freeze Han in carbonite, before Darth Vader confronts Luke to reveal that he is truly his father in an attempt to lure him to the Dark Side. Luke escapes and reunites with Leia and the surviving rebels, pondering an uncertain future to their cause.

Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983)

After successfully rescuing Han Solo from crime lord Jabba the Hutt, Luke Skywalker completes his training at Dagobah as the Rebel Alliance prepares an attack on the almost rebuilt Death Star and the Empire awaits the arrival of the Emperor. Han and the others travel to Endor, where they befriend the native Ewoks, in hopes to disengage the Death Star’s shield generator. While there, Luke reveals to Leia that they are siblings and the biological children of Darth Vader before leaving to confront the Sith lord in hopes to bring him back to the Light Side.

The Emperor taunts Luke, weighed down by the threat looming over his friends, but his attempt to lure him to the Dark Side is stopped by a sudden change of heart in Darth Vader, who kills the Emperor, leading to his own death. Luke escapes the Death Star before the Rebels successfully destroy it, securing the end of the Empire’s rule and inciting a celebration on Endor where Luke sees that his father’s Force spirit lives on beside Yoda and Obi-Wan.

Tales Of The Empire (2024) (Morgan Elsbeth's Story)

As with Ahsoka’s story in Tales of the Jedi, there’s no way to place Morgan Elsbeth’s story in Tales of the Empire in a firm spot on this timeline. First we see her surviving General Grievous’ assault on the Nightsisters of Dathomir, which occurred during the Clone Wars Season 4 episode “Massacre.” Then it jumps forward to her meeting Thrawn sometime in the middle of her Imperial career, and then we see her as Corvus’ magistrate shortly before the events of The Mandalorian. So to be safe, stick this before the series following Din Djarin and Grogu if you’re watching in chronological order.

The Mandalorian (2019-Present)

Set between the fall of the Empire and the rise of the First Order, creator Jon Favreau's The Mandalorian follows a bounty hunter, named Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal). After rescuing an infant with great, forgotten power (who later comes to be known as Grogu), he takes an oath to make sure that he stays out of harm's way. The series has done a lot over its run, from spotlighting Mandalorian culture to bringing back characters like Boba Fett, Ahsoka Tano, Luke Skywalker and even Zeb from Star Wars Rebels.

In January 2024, The Mandalorian & Grogu was announced, and Jon Favreau will direct it. The movie comes out on May 22, 2026, and will bring in people like Jeremy Allen White as Rotta the Hutt, Jonny Coyne reprising his Imperial Warlord character and Sigourney Weaver in an undisclosed role. However, now it’s unclear if The Mandalorian Season 4 is also still happening.

The Book Of Boba Fett (2021-2022)

More a continuation of The Mandalorian's second season than a spinoff, Disney+'s The Book of Boba Fett sees Temuera Morrison reprising the role, now as the central character... for the most part. The series reveals how the former bounty hunter survived the Sarlacc pit, became acquainted with his companion, Fennec Shand, and adopted a somewhat more peaceful philosophy after establishing kin with Tusken Raiders.

As a crime lord, he struggles to make a difference in the town of Mos Espa on Tatooine, which eventually leads him to enlist Mando's help against a crime syndicate associated with his former mentor, Cad Bane. In the process of defeating the syndicate, Mando is also reunited with Grogu after the youngling chooses to be with his surrogate father instead of continuing his Jedi training with Luke Skywalker.

Ahsoka (2023-present)

Ahsoka takes place after the title character's appearance in The Mandalorian Season 2. This is evidenced by Morgan Elsbeth, whom Ahsoka Tano captured in the aforementioned show, being broken out of custody in Ahsoka's first episode. Without going into spoilers, this show also definitely takes place after The Book of Boba Fett given where we leave off with the character in the finale.

For those who watched Star Wars Rebels and are keen to see how this live-action show picks up the plot threads it left behind, the series' opening episodes overlap with the epilogue in the animated show's finale, with Ahsoka Tano returning to Lothal to recruit Sabine Wren to help her find Ezra Bridger. Along the way, they clash with new foes, like Force users Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati, as well as cross paths once again with Grand Admiral Thrawn, reprised by Lars Mikkelsen. Lucasfilm confirmed in January 2024 that Ahsoka Season 2 is happening, but we’re a long ways off from learning specifics about the next episodes.

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew (2023-present)

Star War: Skeleton Crew is arguably the most self-contained of the Disney+ Star Wars shows so far, as it follows four children from the planet At-Attin being accidentally taken away from their home and trying to make their way back with a pirate who seemingly knows how to use the Force. However, we can place the show during the New Republic era, specifically after The Mandalorian Season 3 given the presence of the pirate Vane, who previously worked for Gorian Shard. Whether or not Skeleton Crew Season 1 takes place before or after Ahsoka is less certain, so we'll just go with the latter option for now.

Star Wars Resistance (2018-2020)

The now (mostly) peaceful galaxy is hanging by a thread when a new threat emerges. The First Order seeks to reclaim rule of the Republic in the name of the fallen Empire. Disney Channel's animated Star Wars TV show follows a young resistance pilot tasked with investigating the First Order in hopes to defend the galaxy before once again succumbing to the authority of the Dark Side. Like The Clone Wars and Rebels, Resistance is a Star Wars show that both kids and adults can enjoy.

Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015)

Years after the First Order has assumed dominance, resistance pilot Poe Dameron leaves a map leading to an exiled Luke Skywalker with trusted droid BB-8 before he is captured by Kylo Ren. A stormtrooper helps Poe escape and earns the nickname Finn, but crash lands on Jakku, where BB-8 has befriended abandoned scavenger Rey. They flee Jakku using the Millennium Falcon, whose previous owners, Han Solo and Chewbacca, find them and accompany them to the planet Takodana, where Rey is kidnapped by the First Order.

Luckily, the others are rescued by Poe and taken to a resistance base led by General Leia Organa, who sends Han and Finn to the Starkiller Base to rescue Rey. For the first time since he turned to the Dark Side and became Kylo Ren, Ben Solo sees his father, Han, and kills him in an effort to prove his worth to the First Order. After the resistance destroys the Starkiller Base, Rey travels to find Luke in hopes to begin her Jedi training and enlist his help in defeating the First Order.

Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017)

Rey receives Jedi training from the reluctant Luke Skywalker, whose failure to save Kylo Ren from the Dark Side has, essentially, rendered him hopeless. Meanwhile, as the First Order tracks the Rebellion by hyperspeed, Finn teams up with mechanic Rose Tico in a search for a codebreaker who may be of great help.

After learning that Luke tried to kill Ben Solo due to his dark tendencies, Rey flees and is captured by Ren, where the unlikely duo combine efforts against Supreme Leader Snoke, only to depart when Ren admits he was hoping to rule the First Order with her. The Rebel Alliance takes refuge at Crait, where Luke’s force projection faces off against Ren. The battle weakens the Jedi Master to death, but helps Rey escape Crait with the resistance, who now face an uncertain future.

Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise Of Skywalker (2019)

In the final chapter of the Skywalker Saga, we learn the First Order has been secretly run the whole time by Palpatine. Not only that, but the revived emperor also turns out to be the grandfather of Rey, who has worked to complete her training with Leia Organa. Unfortunately, Leia later succumbs to illness while Rey is dueling with Kylo Ren in the remnants of the second Death Star.

In the end, Rey is able to defeat Palpatine and destroy the First Order with the help of a reformed Ben Solo, who also dies after using the Force to resurrect Rey after she initially succumbs to her own exhausted power in battle. The surviving rebels, including Lando Calrissian, celebrate their victory as Rey returns to Tatooine where she buries Luke and Leia's lightsabers and assumes Luke’s last name as her own – hence the title, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. But while this story marks the end of the Skywalker Saga, Rey will return in her own movie being directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy.

Star Wars: Visions (2021-present)

The reason Disney+’s Star Wars: Visions is at the bottom of the list is because most, if not all of the stories told within this animated anthology series aren’t canon. Visions provides an opportunity for animators around the world to leave their distinct stamp on the franchise without needing to worry about continuity. The first season was comprised of all anime short films, while Season 2 delivered offerings in different animation styles from various other countries. So there's no need to worry about slotting Visions into the timeline; these shorts can be watched whenever you feel like it.

So there you have it: the entire timeline of the main saga set in a galaxy far, far away as told through the many Star Wars canon movies (which we’ve ranked) and TV shows in their proper order. However, keep in mind, this story is far from over, so keep visiting CinemaBlend for the latest and greatest news on the franchise.

The Star Wars galaxy continues to expand further and further with the Disney+ TV shows, and Obi-Wan Kenobi has officially become the latest chapter in the saga. It was the Star Wars: The Clone Wars series that really established that stories set in the galaxy far, far away can work on the small screen, however, and the Disney streaming platform finally gave fans the final season that they were waiting for back in 2020. Speaking with CinemaBlend two years later, Ahsoka Tano voice actress and Star Wars Mindful Matters host Ashley Eckstein has looked back at the Clone Wars finale and legacy.

Ashley Eckstein has been active within Star Wars even beyond her voice work, and overcame some fears for the Mindful Matters project that debuted on Star Wars Day 2022. That said, hers is the voice of one of the most iconic characters from Star Wars TV, and she helped bring The Clone Wars to a dramatic close with a finale arc involving the Siege of Mandalore, an epic duel between Ahsoka and Maul, and how Ahsoka and Rex escaped Order 66. 

More than two years after the end of The Clone Wars, Eckstein has shared with CinemaBlend how she currently feels about the finale:

The deliberate timing of The Clone Wars’ seventh and final season meant that the finale released on Star Wars Day in 2020, but the coincidental timing meant that the final season of Clone Wars was releasing in early months of the COVID pandemic lockdown. The finale wasn’t an altogether happy ending, as it took place after Order 66 with Ahsoka on the run and the Empire in control, but it ended on a sense of hope for the future. Plus, any fans who had watched Star Wars Rebels already had an idea of what was in store for Rex and Ahsoka in the Star Wars timeline, so it wasn’t the end of their story even if it was the end of The Clone Wars. Ashley Eckstein continued:

The final season of The Clone Wars was a long time coming, as the series was originally cancelled on Cartoon Network after five seasons in 2013, with a sixth season releasing on Netflix in 2014. It took more than six years and another platform change before the show got its deserved ending on Disney+, with what Ashley Eckstein deems “perfect timing.” The finale to the show that really started Star Wars on TV wasn’t Eckstein’s only project that was a long time coming either, as she shared about the new Mindful Matters project:

Star Wars Mindful Matters is a series of shorts hosted and written by Ashley Eckstein, with the goal of guiding viewers in mindful exercises. The shorts have been releasing throughout the month of May on StarWarsKids.com as well as the Star Wars Kids YouTube account, starting with the first episode on – when else? – May the 4th. Eckstein has become a key part of Star Wars over the years since her debut as Ahsoka Tano back in 2008.

On the heels of Hayden Christensen revealing that he watched The Clone Wars and Rebels ahead of reprising his prequel trilogy role as Darth Vader for Obi-Wan Kenobi, I asked Eckstein about her sense of pride that the animated shows featuring Ahsoka have had such an impact on the galaxy far, far away with such a strong legacy, and she shared: 

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker delivered a surprise cameo from Ahsoka Tano (as well as a number of other Jedi characters), which led some to speculate that she had died off-screen, but it was definitely a treat for Clone Wars and Rebels fans to get to see such an important animated character included in the Skywalker saga on the big screen. After all these years, Ashley Eckstein only had good things to say about voicing Ahsoka Tano and the Clone Wars finale.

Of course, Ahsoka will return to television in 2023, but not in animation. Rosario Dawson’s live-action Ahsoka series is expected to debut for Disney+ subscribers next year. In the meantime, you can find plenty of Ahsoka content – including the full run and finale of Star Wars: The Clone Wars – streaming on Disney+ now.

When we last saw Hayden Christensen’s Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, the corrupted and mutilated Jedi Knight was being outfitted with his Darth Vader armor so that he could continue serving as Emperor Palpatine/Darth Sidious’ apprentice. Nearly two decades later, Christensen is stepping back into Anakin/Vader’s boots for the Obi-Wan Kenobi series, which is set 10 years after the final entry in the Prequel Trilogy. Matt Lanter, who voiced Anakin in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels, is among the fans who are looking forward to seeing Christensen’s return, and he’s particularly interested in how Christensen’s performance this time around will draw from those two animated series.

During my interview with Matt Lanter about having voiced Ted Kord in the DC Showcase animated short Blue Beetle, I asked what he thought about Hayden Christensen having watched Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels as part of his preparation process, and also what he was looking forward to seeing in the next live-action Star Wars TV show that, just like The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, will be accessible with a Disney+ subscription. Here’s what Lanter had to say:

Not to be confused with the Star Wars: Clone Wars microseries that aired in between the releases of Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: The Clone Wars launched  in August 2008 with a theatrically-released backdoor pilot movie, and the TV series itself debuted the following October. Matt Lanter voiced Anakin for the entirety of The Clone Wars’ run (including the seventh and final season that premiered on Disney+ six years after the show originally ended).  And while James Earl Jones voiced Darth Vader in Star Wars Rebels’ opening two-parter and throughout Season 2, we also heard Lanter as Anakin during two episodes of that sophomore season.

Because Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels fleshed out Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader so much (particularly through having him train Ahsoka Tano as the war raged on in the former series), it’s understandable why Matt Lanter is pleased that Hayden Christensen turned to those shows for inspiration in the lead-up to working on Obi-Wan Kenobi. As Lanter mentioned, he was already aware that Christensen had already seen at least some of The Clone Wars, but it’s still a big deal when the guy who played Anakin on film for two movies goes back to check out the entirety of your TV voicework as the same character. Beyond that, Lanter is looking forward to seeing if any specific aspects of The Clone Wars end up influencing Obi-Wan Kenobi. As far as Rebels’ influence goes, we already know Rupert Friend and Sung Kang are respectively playing The Grand Inquisitor and Fifth Brother, two antagonists from that series, so that base is already well covered.  

The first two episodes of Obi-Wan Kenobi debut May 27 on Disney+, with additional episodes following every Wednesday afterwards. Keep your eyes peeled on CinemaBlend for more news about Star Wars movies and TV shows, and check out Matt Lanter’s performance as Blue Beetle when Warner Bros. Home Entertainment releases the DC Showcase — Constantine: The House of Mystery compilation on Blu-ray and 4K May 3.

There’s a lot for fans to be excited about when it comes to Obi-Wan Kenobi. The limited series (which will be accessible with a Disney+ subscription) brings back one of the franchise’s most beloved characters and thrusts him into a dangerous new adventure. The on-screen reunion between Ewan McGregor, who returns as Obi-Wan and Hayden Christensen, who reprises his role as Darth Vader, is also an exciting prospect. This has been a long time coming for both actors, and they seem to have taken their role reprisals very seriously. As a matter of fact, they both found great ways to prepare for their roles, which fans are sure to appreciate.

What makes Obi-Wan Kenobi’s story so unique is that it not only brings in characters and themes from the Prequel Trilogy but also utilizes concepts from the animated shows Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Rebels. Both series have added a considerable amount of content to the canon since the final prequel film, Revenge of the Sith, was released in 2005. That’s why Hayden Christensen opted to binge both programs before he started work on the upcoming live-action show, and it sounds like he found them to be relatively helpful:

Clone Wars, in particular, spent a great deal of time further fleshing out the relationship between Anakin and Obi-Wan. While the films mostly painted them as teacher and student, the animated show (overseen by producer Dave Filoni) drove home the brotherhood aspect of their bond. At this point, there’s been no official indication as to whether Hayden Christensen will also appear as Skywalker though, given the actor’s method of research, I’d say there’s a chance fans could see him play the role in a flashback or two. Regardless, I just admire the star’s diligence.

Ewan McGregor has been just as sharp when it comes to his own preparation. Sure, the actor reunited with his Jedi robes ahead of time and has pretended to be a Force-user in real life, but he did much more than that. Like his co-star, he spoke to EW, explaining that he revisited the prequel films . And of course, he looked to his iconic Obi-Wan predecessor for guidance: 

The Scottish actor has previously discussed how his work was influenced by Alec Guinness, who he studied before filming 1999’s The Phantom Menace. When it comes to this new project, the Down with Love alum hopes to maintain the qualities of his Obi-Wan while channeling elements of Guinness’. 

The reunion between Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen is certainly a treat (and apparently even surprised Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy). As special as it’ll be to see them share the screen, the experience should be even more satisfying for fans now that they have a better understanding of how much work the stars put in. In short, we’re here for passionate performers!

Obi-Wan Kenobi’s two-episode premiere hits Disney+ on Friday, May 27.

While Jake Lloyd and Hayden Christensen are the actors chiefly associated with Anakin Skywalker thanks to their time as the character in the Prequel-era Star Wars movies, Timeless and Jupiter’s Legacy actor Matt Lanter has them both beat regarding how long he’s held that particular role. Lanter primarily voiced Anakin for the entirety of Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ run, and among his costars on that series was Ashley Eckstein, who voiced Anakin’s apprentice, Ahsoka Tano. She has now shared her support for the actor after he was hospitalized for emergency surgery.

To provide some context, Matt Lanter’s wife, Angela Lanter, shared on Instagram that her husband has “been through the ringer” since last Tuesday and ended up in surgery on Thursday. Fortunately, as of Sunday, he “started to turn the corner and is slowly getting on the road to recovery,” and Angela Lanter thanked those who’d shared their prayers, love and support for Matt Lanter. That group includes Ashley Eckstein, who posted the below message about her Star Wars: The Clone Wars costar.

The Star Wars: The Clone Wars saga kicked off in the summer of 2008 with the theatrical movie, and the animated series’ premiere on Cartoon Network followed a few months later. However, Matt Lanter, Ashley Eckstein and the rest of The Clone Wars’ main cast members had started recording their roles a few years earlier, meaning Lanter and Eckstein go back over a decade and a half now. So it’s no surprise that Lanter means a lot to Eckstein, hence why she asked her fans to join her in extending “kindness, well wishes and prayers” for Matt Lanter’s “good health and a speedy recovery,” as well as support for his family.

The master/apprentice dynamic between Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano was one of the key relationships in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, which took place during the three years between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. Even after Ahsoka left the Jedi Order at the end of Season 5, she and Anakin reunited one more time as allies during Season 7, ahead of Darth Maul being captured on Mandalore. Sadly, Anakin’s transformation into Darth Vader occurred shortly thereafter, and in the Star Wars Rebels Season 2 finale, which took place a little over a decade and a half after the Clone Wars ended, Ahsoka dueled her former master on Malachor.

While it remains to be seen if we’ll ever hear Matt Lanter and Ashley Eckstein voicing Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano together again (though Lanter teased in 2021 that he was working on another animated project), we’re not done seeing these two characters come face-to-face. The upcoming Ahsoka series, which will be available to watch with a Disney+ subscription like all the other Star Wars shows, sees Rosario Dawson’s older Ahsoka taking center stage following her appearances in The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett. It was revealed in October 2021 that Hayden Christensen will reprise Anakin in Ahsoka. While we’ll see Christensen playing a different kind of Darth Vader in Obi-Wan Kenobi soon, given Ahsoka’s placement in the Star Wars timeline, it’s unclear if we’ll see Anakin and Ahsoka back together in flashbacks to the Clone Wars, or if the former will appear to the latter as a Force ghost in the “present day” storyline.

Keep visiting CinemaBlend for all the latest updates on upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows. We’re also passing along well wishes and support Matt Lanter’s way for a speedy recovery.

This has been a big week on the Star Wars news front. In addition to The Book of Boba Fett wrapping up its seven-episode run on Disney+, it was also announced that the Ewan McGregor-led Obi-Wan Kenobi series will premiere on May 25. Now today brings word that the Ahsoka series has added a new cast member, and the name will be familiar to Star Wars Rebels and Star Wars: The Clone Wars fans. 

Ray Stevenson, who voiced Mandalorian antagonist Gar Saxon in two episodes of Star Wars Rebels and then reprised the character for two episodes of Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 7, will be joining Rosario Dawson in Ahsoka. However, considering that Gar Saxon died during Rebels, naturally Stevenson won’t be playing this role again since Ahsoka is spinning out of The Mandalorian, which takes place half a decade after Return of the Jedi.

Instead, THR has heard from its sources that Ray Stevenson will play an admiral in Ahsoka, but before some of you get too excited, this isn’t Grand Admiral Thrawn. That Star Wars villain, who was introduced decades ago in the Legends continuity and was brought into the main canon as the main antagonist for Star Wars Rebels’ latter two season, is expected to show up in this series since Rosario Dawson’s Ahsoka Tano said she was looking for Thrawn in The Mandalorian episode “The Jedi.” Since Stevenson’s character is identified as a villain, he’ll almost certainly be one of Thrawn’s cohorts who’s clinging to the remnants of the Empire.

Outside of the Star Wars universe, Ray Stevenson has other geek cred from playing Frank Castle, a.k.a. The Punisher, in Punisher: War Zone, as well as Volstagg in the first three Thor movies. Stevenson also starred as Firefly in G.I. Joe: Retaliation and Marcus Eaton in two Divergent movies, while over in the TV realm, he’s recognizable as Dexter’s Isaak Sirko and Blackbeard in Black Sails, among other shows.

Ray Stevenson is the sixth cast member to be added to Disney+’s Ahsoka. Last October, almost a year after it was announced that Rosario Dawson’s character was getting her own live-action series, it was revealed that Hayden Christensen will reprise Anakin Skywalker in Ahsoka following his outing as the character in Darth Vader form for Obi-Wan Kenobi. One month later, The Society’s Natasha Liu Bordizzo was cast as Sabine Wren, one of Star Wars Rebels’ main characters who was voiced in the animated series by Tiya Sircar. Ahsoka has also cast Birds of Prey’s Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Pacific Rim: Uprising’s Ivanna Sakhno in undisclosed roles.

Other than Ahsoka Tano being on the hunt for Grand Admiral Thrawn, which is undoubtedly tied to her and Sabine Wren’s quest to find the missing Ezra Bridger, no specific Ahsoka plot details have been divulged yet. Shooting on the Disney+ series is reportedly expected to begin in Los Angeles at the end of April, so don’t expect to see it premiere until sometime next year. Keep your eyes peeled on CinemaBlend for more news on Ahsoka and other upcoming Star Wars shows.

The Star Wars franchise has produced numerous characters that have become widely loved by audiences, and one that has truly entered the pop culture zeitgeist in an interesting way is Ahsoka Tano. When the padawan was first introduced in the animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars back in 2008, fans initially weren’t too high on her. Yet now, she’s become a true staple of the franchise and has arguably had one of the most compelling arcs in the entire saga. This is in large part due to the efforts of her creator, Dave Filoni, who is now set to continue her journey in Disney+’s Ahsoka. Details on the show are scarce right now, but Filoni has now opened up about what it’s been like to expand the Jedi’s story up to the Mandalorian spinoff. 

After Clone Wars, Ahsoka’s storyline continued into Star Wars Rebels, which smoothly transitioned her into her explosive debut on The Mandalorian last year. Dave Filoni was excited to bring his beloved heroine into the live-action world, though this new show brings a bit of pressure with it. Of course, this is far from the writer/producer’s first rodeo, and he’s apparently put a lot of thought into this new chapter in Tano’s story: 

It really has been amazing to see just how this universe and its characters have continued to grow over the years. As the fan-favorite Lucasfilm producer explained to Empire, not many would’ve imagined a live-action Star Wars show centered on a bounty hunter and a diminutive, green alien. The same can be said about a spinoff series that thrusts iconic bounty hunter Boba Fett (played by Temuera Morrison no less) into the spotlight. It’s safe to say this is a wonderful time to be a fan of the galaxy far, far away. 

Ahsoka feels like the logical next step in this hype, as the project will now allow audiences to follow the story of a Jedi within the Mandalorian timeline. Not only will it make for a nice change of pace, but it will also provide action sequences that are a bit more intricate (Not that Din Djarin’s exploits haven’t been impressive.) Of course, lead actor Rosario Dawson will likely also get some weighty material that will allow her to further develop her iteration of the character. And it looks like the story may be aiming to resolve a loose plot thread that’s been dangling for a few years now. 

At the end of the Rebels series finale in 2018, young Jedi Ezra Bridger seemingly sacrificed himself in order to prevent Grand Admiral Thrawn from destroying the city of Lothal. Not believing Bridger to be dead, Ahsoka, along with Sabine Wren, sought to find the young man. According to rumors, the show has cast Aladdin star Mena Massoud to play the live-action Bridger, while Lars Mikkelsen is allegedly reprising his role as Thrawn. And just last week, it was reported that Natasha Liu Bordizzo has been cast as Sabine. This would all be exciting enough, yet Hayden Christensen is also apparently reprising his role as Tano’s master, Anakin Skywalker. 

Such developments should truly bring Ahsoka Tano’s story full circle in a compelling and sweet way. It’ll probably be a while before the show actually arrives but, with Dave Filoni behind the scenes and Rosario Dawon leading the cast, it should be well worth the wait.

In the meantime, be sure to check out Ahsoka’s past appearances in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Rebels and The Mandalorian by streaming all three on Disney+.

Star Wars' next live-action series coming to Disney+ will be The Book of Boba Fett, which will give fans some insight into the life of the famed bounty hunter following his franchise re-appearance in The Mandalorian. Many are excited to see the long-ignored Boba Fett enter the spotlight with his own series, and that excitement could grow after hearing rumors that a particular Star Wars: The Clone Wars character may be coming along for the ride. Brace yourselves, fans, because Cad Bane could be making his first live-action appearance in The Book of Boba Fett.

For those unfamiliar, Cad Bane is a Duros bounty hunter who was around during the titular Clone Wars, and then for some time after. Following the death of Jango Fett, he was considered to be the best bounty hunter in the galaxy, and at one point, he took on Boba Fett as an apprentice. The two headed up a popular storyline arc in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and Bane recently re-appeared in the canonized universe in Star Wars: The Bad Batch.

If the rumors surrounding a live-action Cad Bane are true, then his Bad Batch episodes will no doubt prove to be vital for fans to watch. The Kaminoans hired Bane in an effort to kidnap Omega back from Clone Force 99, but Bane was ultimately unable to do so thanks to the efforts of Fennec Shand. As portrayed by Ming-Na Wen in both series, Shand is a bounty hunter character from The Mandalorian shown to be close to Boba Fett, so perhaps this connection was laid to in order to build up Bane's story before his alleged arrival in The Book of Boba Fett. This is all under the assumption that the rumor, which came from lrmonline.com, is true, since there's no official word on about Bane's future in any format.

With that being said, it wouldn't be too surprising for a character like Cad Bane to be included in The Book of Boba Fett, as the upcoming live-action series will be an opportunity to include many popular bounty hunters from the franchise's lore, and it would appear there's an interest in bringing a lot of animated characters from the Star Wars universe into the Disney+ series. Ahsoka Tano was the pioneering example of that, so it would not be the least bit surprising to see Cad Bane with his tubes and cowboy attire in live-action. (It's almost too bad Timothy Olyphant already showed up as Cobb Vanth, or he'd be a spot-on choice for the role.)

The bigger question, perhaps for Star Wars fans, is where Cad Bane could appear in The Book of Boba Fett. Cad Bane was old enough to know Jango Fett, and based on his appearance at the First Battle of Geonosis, we could conservatively say he's at least in his 50s. We could see a much older Bane in the upcoming spinoff, or perhaps he would appear via flashback from a past encounter with Boba Fett. Honestly, age importance is pretty relative in Star Wars, considering Grogu is still a small child at 50 years old, not to mention Omega having been alive longer than Clone Force 99, despite her being a child. So we probably shouldn't hinge too many theories on the age factor.

The Book Of Boba Fett is expected to arrive on Disney+ in December 2021. Boba Fett has gone through some changes recently for those that missed it, though the changes are primarily tied to his ship.

The Mandalorian proved that it could keep big secrets going all the way back to Baby Yoda in the first season, but the show really outdid itself in Season 2 by managing to keep Mark Hamill's return as Luke Skywalker from leaking. Of course, it wasn't by pure happenstance that Hamill's appearance went unspoiled, as the team behind the scenes went to great lengths to keep the secret. In fact, they used a Clone Wars character to hide the return of Luke. As far as most people knew before the big reveal, Plo Koon was the Jedi who arrived to save the day for Mando and Co.

The newest episode of Disney+'s Disney Gallery: Star Wars: The Mandalorian revealed just how far the team went to keep the big secret, with Mark Hamill himself pointing out that all it would take is one person and one post on social media for arguably the biggest twist in Mandalorian history to be totally spoiled. Season 2 finale director Peyton Reed explained how Luke Skywalker wasn't spoiled before the episode released:

Plo Koon made his Star Wars screen debut with the prequel trilogy, and seemingly died in the Order 66 sequence in Revenge of the Sith, but his death wasn't explicit like it was for some of the other murdered Jedi. Plus, he gained much more prominence as a Jedi thanks to Star Wars: The Clone Wars, where he had some notable arcs and a close relationship to Ahsoka Tano, who made her Mandalorian debut in Season 2. Plo Koon could have worked, so he was a good choice for the fakeout.

Honestly, after Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker featured Palpatine "somehow" returning on top of other wild moments, Plo Koon's survival wouldn't be the hardest twist to believe. He made sense as a substitute Jedi who would save the day, if The Mandalorian was going to go for somebody more well-known than Star Wars Rebels' Ezra Bridger and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order's Cal Kestis. And the art that the Mandalorian team created to sell Plo Koon's reveal was pretty convincing! Take a look:

As it turns out, there's a reason why Plo Koon was a smart choice as the fake Jedi even beyond his arguably ambiguous demise in Revenge of the Sith, and it's all thanks to Dave Filoni. The Mandalorian executive producer was also supervising director on Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and he made no secret of his feelings about that particular Jedi. Filoni explained:

As far as I recall, it was not "spoiled" that Plo Koon would turn up in the Season 2 finale of The Mandalorian, and even the most significant of Plo Koon "leaks" wouldn't have given away the arrival of Mark Hamill's Luke Skywalker by the end of the season. Dave Filoni even kept a former Clone Wars actor who reprised their role for The Mandalorian in the dark, as Bo-Katan star Katee Sackhoff shared earlier this year that she fully believed that Plo Koon was on the way.

Alas for Plo Koon fans, this may mean that the Jedi is truly as dead as he seemed as of Order 66 in Revenge of the Sith, although the Mandalorian team does already have some concept art handy to show could awesome it could look if he returned. Really, one should never entirely rule much of anything out when it comes to Star Wars. If you want to relive the excitement of the build to Mark Hamill's Mandalorian debut, you can find the full run of that series so far streaming on Disney+, along with more of Disney Gallery: Star Wars: The Mandalorian.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars actress Ashley Eckstein became a fan-favorite for her role as Ahsoka Tano going all the way back to the Clone Wars animated movie in 2008, so she has well over a decade of experience as part of an incredibly passionate fandom. In the years since Ahsoka's debut as Anakin Skywalker's Padawan, Eckstein founded Her Universe and hosts the Her Universe Fashion Show for San Diego Comic-Con. With designers ready to virtually show off the best in geek couture after having to take 2020 off, Eckstein spoke with CinemaBlend about the importance of the fashion show opening up fandom participation to women and girls.

The Her Universe Fashion Show of course features some Star Wars looks when it comes to geek couture, but the fashion definitely isn't limited to that galaxy far, far away. In past shows, fandoms ranging from Star Wars to Jurassic Park to She-Ra – not to mention of course Marvel and DC – and beyond have been represented. While the fashion show can certainly be enjoyed by everybody, fandom events with women at the forefront hasn't always been as widely available as it is today. When I asked Ashley Eckstein if the Her Universe Fashion Show opened up fandom participation to a demographic that hasn't always had large creative fandom outlets available, she shared:

Cosplay has been a fun facet of fandom both for observers and the cosplayers themselves for a long time, but the geek couture of the Her Universe Fashion Show ups the ante in some exceptionally creative ways. And according to Ashley Eckstein, the looks can open up a world of fashion that young girls in particular might not have been exposed to or have access to. With fandom twists!

As somebody who was more obsessed than I care to admit with some of Princess Leia's looks in the original Star Wars trilogy as a young girl, I can definitely appreciate what seeing these fandom fashion endeavors could mean for kids today! Ashley Eckstein continued, explaining how fashion can be so much more accessible now than ever before:

If the Ewoks could make Princess Leia a dress circa Return of the Jed, anybody interested in fashion with access to YouTube surely has a shot! (And that's no joke about the Ewoks – just check out Star Wars Forces of Destiny.) The designers who create the geek couture for the Her Universe Fashion Show are the best of the best, but that doesn't mean that anybody who is interested in fandom fashion shouldn't try their hand at it.

The virtual Her Universe Fashion Show, hosted by Ashley Eckstein and featuring fandom fashion from all corners of pop culture, kicked off on July 23 at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET. If you missed watching the initial broadcast, the video is still available on YouTube for fans to watch and decide which designer deserves the prize as Audience Winner. You can vote here now, and voting will be open until 11:59 p.m. PT on Sunday, July 25, with the Audience Winner announced on July 28.

As for Ashley Eckstein's Ahsoka Tano, you can find her throughout Star Wars animation steaming on Disney+ now! And don't forget to check out our 2021 summer TV premiere schedule for more viewing options outside the realm of geek couture.

The festivities for the annual San Diego Comic-Con are going virtual again for the second year in a row, but the 2021 con will feature something that couldn't happen last year: the Her Universe Fashion Show competition, hosted by Star Wars: The Clone Wars fan favorite and Her Universe founder Ashley Eckstein. For the first time, the popular event that showcases looks that combine fandom with "geek couture" designs will be all-virtual and streaming on YouTube. Eckstein spoke with CinemaBlend ahead of the 2021 fashion show, and opened up about the beautiful gift she received after the 2020 show was cancelled, and more.

The Her Universe Fashion Show was part of the planned lineup for SDCC in 2020, but the seventh annual presentation had to be cancelled due to the COVID pandemic. Although the Comic-Con festivities are virtual yet again this year, Ashley Eckstein and the Her Universe team worked to make the fashion show happen anyway. With this year's show embracing the theme of "community," Eckstein shared how determined they were to bring the show back in a new virtual way:

Last year, the community dedicated to the Her Universe Fashion Show came together to surprise Ashley Eckstein with a quilt that was a beautiful surprise, and Eckstein shared an image of the quilt on social media last fall. And the quilt did more than just surprise and delight Eckstein, as it was the moment that convinced her that the fashion show needed to come back somehow in 2021. Fast-forward to this summer, and the Her Universe Fashion Show is happening on July 23!

That said, like many other people and groups over the past year, the Her Universe team had to adapt to make the show into something virtual, when it usually involves a packed house of fans and geek couture models (including Ashley Eckstein herself) strutting their stuff along a catwalk. Eckstein shared how they faced challenges in taking the show virtual:

The evolution of the show and collaboration between everybody needed to make the show is a pretty good sign that fans are in for something special when the Her Universe presentation kicks off on Friday. The whole team has taken the time and put in the effort, and there's clearly a lot to be excited about. Ashley Eckstein continued, explaining one element that she herself is particularly excited about:

The in-person audience in previous years got to vote on a winner, and that element of the Her Universe Fashion Show wasn't lost just because of the switch to virtual. Fans will be able to vote from home, and there will be plenty of time to do it, with voting open from the end of the show on Friday night through Sunday night, with the results coming next week.

While fans and viewers will have to wait until the Her Universe Fashion Show at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET on July 23 to find out everything in store, Ashley Eckstein has shared a sneak peek at something very cool that will have a part to play in the festivities: a clutch purse made out of LEGO. Having had some experience with LEGO, I just had to ask the actress an important question: was she nervous about dropping it and potentially sending LEGO pieces flying everywhere? She shared:

The LEGO clutch is not only impressive for being a functional purse, but it was also customized with an Ahsoka Tano design that could well make Clone Wars fans everywhere wishing for their own LEGO Master Builder expertise. Take a look:

See Ashley Eckstein back in her role as host of the Her Universe Fashion Show when it kicks off virtually for the first time ever, on Wednesday, July 23 at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET on the Comic-Con@Home YouTube channel. You can also check out her work as Ahsoka Tano with the full runs of Star Wars: The Clone Wars (which ended with an epic finale last year), Star Wars Rebels, and Star Wars: Forces of Destiny streaming on Disney+, plus a surprise cameo in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more on the way from Ashley Eckstein about Star Wars, geek couture fandom, and more! For more viewing options now and in the coming weeks, check out our 2021 summer TV premiere schedule.

Ahsoka Tano has become a legend in the Star Wars universe as a consummate survivor fighting for the greater good, and Ashley Eckstein has voiced the character in everything from Star Wars: The Clone Wars to Star Wars Rebels to even a surprise cameo in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. With the end of The Clone Wars in 2020, however, Eckstein closed a chapter of Ahsoka's story that seemed unlikely ever to be finished. Now, the actress has reflected on her final day voicing Ahsoka for The Clone Wars.

The Disney+ revival of The Clone Wars in 2020 brought the show back to finish the story that had been cut short by the show's unceremonious cancellation back in 2013, which filled in some very big blanks regarding Ahsoka Tano and what happened between her leaving the Jedi Order in Clone Wars and turning up again in Star Wars Rebels. Ashley Eckstein weighed in to ComicBookMovie.com on whether she was playing those final episodes as a temporary goodbye or a farewell for good, saying:

When Ashley Eckstein starting voicing Ahsoka in 2006 for the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated movie (which released in 2008), nobody – including Eckstein herself – could have guessed that Padawan newcomer Ahsoka would become such a fan-favorite in a series also featuring iconic Star Wars characters like Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Yoda.

If the series finale of The Clone Wars was indeed Ashley Eckstein's final bow as Ahsoka (with Rosario Dawson playing the character in live action starting with The Mandalorian), the actress clearly feels good about how long she was able to play the character.That's not to say that Eckstein considers the Clone Wars finale to be her final bow as Ahsoka Tano no matter what, however! She elaborated on her time as Ahsoka:

If Ahsoka's many appearances in the Star Wars saga are proof of anything, it's that fans should never rule out the possibility of her appearing in live action or animation. Even though Rosario Dawson will play the character in live action, it's a pretty safe bet that Star Wars isn't going to be done with animation when The Bad Batch ends, and Rise of Skywalker even proved that Eckstein's Ahsoka can appear in non-animation projects. And Forces of Destiny definitely proves that Eckstein can contribute as Ahsoka in non-traditional series as well.

As for whether or not Ashley Eckstein will reprise her role as Ahsoka or if The Clone Wars was the end, only time will tell. For now, you can always find all things Ahsoka streaming on Disney+, including the full run of The Clone Wars, all of her episodes of Star Wars Rebels, and more. For some additional viewing options now and in the coming weeks, check out our 2021 summer TV premiere schedule. And if you're now in the mood for some fresh Star Wars content, new episodes of The Bad Batch release on Fridays on Disney+.

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Star Wars: The Clone Wars introduced a lot of popular characters during its run, among them being Cad Bane, one of the most dangerous bounty hunters in a galaxy far, far away. While The Clone Wars wasn’t able to deliver its full Cad Bane vision due to the series being cancelled before his next story arc could be delivered, the character is now back in play thanks to Disney+’s Star Wars: The Bad Batch. Bane reemerged in the episode “Reunion,” and just like in his Clone Wars appearances, he caused a lot of trouble.

During my recent interview with Star Wars: The Bad Batch supervising director Brad Rau, I asked how the decision to bring Cad Bane into the series came about, whether or not Bane’s unfinished story arc from The Clone Wars complicated his inclusion. Rau responded:

Before Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Cad Bane’s last canon on-screen appearance was in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 4 episode “Crisis on Naboo,” which concluded a story arc involving Bane and a small group of other bounty hunters being hired to kidnap Chancellor Palpatine on Naboo. Thanks to Obi-Wan Kenobi, the scheme was foiled and Bane was arrested. Had The Clone Wars gone as long as originally planned, Cad Bane would have returned for a tale involving him and some other bounty hunters mentoring young Boba Fett, and that would have culminated in a gunfight between Bane and Fett.

Granted, Disney+ later brought back Star Wars: The Clone Wars for a seventh and final season, but since it consisted of just 12 episodes, only a few of those planned story arcs could be fully realized. As such, Cad Bane never returned in Star Wars: The Clone Wars after Season 4, but now he’s back in action for Star Wars: The Bad Batch, which takes place immediately after Clone Wars. At the end of “Reunion,” we learned that like Fennec Shand, Bane had been hired to retrieve Omega, and despite Hunter’s best efforts, the bounty hunter succeeded in kidnapping the young clone.

As Brad Rau noted, design and camera framing aspects of Cad Bane’s scrapped Clone Wars arc were incorporated into Star Wars: The Bad Batch, but it remains to be seen is any narrative elements from that arc will also be incorporated into Bane’s time on Disney+’s newest Star Wars series. Obviously things can’t unfold exactly the same as was originally mapped out, but the prospect of seeing Bane with Boba Fett, and perhaps the Batchers and Omega also crossing paths with the Jango Fett clone who will also become a feared bounty hunter and eventually lead his own Star Wars series, is exciting.

New episodes of Star Wars: The Bad Batch premiere Fridays on Disney+, so make sure you’re subscribed to the Mouse House’s streaming service. And as always, stay locked on CinemaBlend for the biggest news about upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows.

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Although Disney+’s The Mandalorian may be down one less spinoff, other shows set within this period of the Star Wars timeline are still in development. One of these series is Ahsoka, which will see Rosario Dawson reprise her live-action role as the fan-favorite Jedi. Though few concrete details are known about the project, reports have claimed that it will incorporate characters from past animated Star Wars series. The latest report now alleges that the show is bringing on yet another Clone Wars alum to join Ahoska Tano.

Take this with a grain of salt for now, but Ahsoka is said to be bringing a Jedi (or should I say ex-Jedi) into the picture. According to the Illuminerdi, the Disney+ show is looking to cast someone to play Star Wars: The Clone Wars character Barriss Offee. The site alleges that the show is looking to cast an actress between the ages of 20 and 30 and is reportedly hoping to tap an actress of Asian descent for the role. It’s too early to say whether Barriss Offee will actually be featured, but her presence on the show would make sense given the complex history between her and Ahsoka.

After making a live-action cameo in 2002’s Attack of the Clones, the character was brought back several years later in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. A padawan learning under Jedi Master Luminara Unduli, Barriss befriended Ahsoka early in the series. The two would end up playing a massive role in the second battle of Geonosis, and their bond would only grow after the dangerous ordeal.

Barriss, however, would eventually become disillusioned with the Jedi, believing them to be responsible for the Clone Wars. With this, she later caused a bombing at the Jedi Temple, framing Ahsoka for it in the process. Even though Offee was later outed as the real culprit, the blowback Tano faced as a result would ultimately cause her to leave the Jedi Order.

Since the end of Clone Wars, many fans have wondered what became of Barriss Offee after the fall of the Jedi Order and the Galactic Republic. So having her in Ahsoka would allow the show to tie up that particular plot thread. It would be interesting to see how the series would choose to bring her back into the fold, if she does indeed appear. But regardless of the circumstances, any reunion between her and Ahsoka would likely be a tense one.

In addition to Star Wars: The Clone Wars characters, some major Rebels alums have also been linked to Ahsoka. Rumors have alleged that Mandalore native and Ghost crew member Sabine Wren could join Tano on the new show. There have even been reports that Jedi Ezra Bridger and the notorious Grand Admiral Thrawn will be featured as well, with reports even claiming that an actor has been found for Ezra. These reports would suggest that the series could be looking to resolve a major Rebels plot thread.

There’s no telling what we’ll see for sure when Ahsoka finally arrives but, if even half of these reports are true, the show would be a must-watch for the Star Wars faithful. We here at CinemaBlend will keep you posted as official updates arrive. In the meantime, The Mandalorian, Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Rebels are available to stream on Disney+, which you can sign up for using this link.

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Warning: SPOILERS for the Star Wars: The Bad Batch episode “Battle Scars” are ahead!

Star Wars: The Bad Batch has featured quite a few familiar faces from the Star Wars universe during its run so far. In the last few weeks alone, we briefly reunited with Jabba the Hutt’s majordomo Bib Fortuna in “Rampage,” while “Decommissioned” brought back sisters Trace and Rafa Martez following their introduction in The Clone Wars Season 7. And speaking of that series, this week’s Bad Batch episode, “Battle Scars,” brought fellow clone Captain Rex, one of the The Clone Wars’ primary characters, back into the picture to help Hunter, Wrecker, Tech and Echo with getting rid of their Order 66 programming.

After completing another mission for Cid at the start of “Battle Scars,” the Bad Batch were surprised to see Rex at the Trandoshan’s establishment. It turns out that Rex was the mysterious individual who Trace and Rafa contacted at the end of “Decommissioned,” and while Rex was initially glad to reunite with some of his fellow clones who hadn’t succumbed to their inhibitor chips, he immediately became cautious upon learning that they still had the chips in their heads. Having seen firsthand how the inhibitor chips can overwrite a clone’s personality and force them to carry out Order 66, Rex recommended that the Batch remove the chips from their bodies as soon as possible.

Agreeing to Rex’s recommendation, the Bad Batch traveled to Bracca, a starship graveyard planet, to find a Venator-class Star Destroyer to find the proper medical bay to remove their inhibitor chips the same way Rex had his removed by Ahsoka Tano. It was a journey fraught with peril, from avoiding Scrapper Guild patrols to Wrecker nearly being killed by some tentacled monstrosity, but eventually they reached their destination, and Wrecker was the first to undergo the procedure. A wise decision, as weeks after hitting his head and suffering recurring headaches, “Decommissioned” showed Wrecker unconsciously muttering “Good soldiers follow orders” before waking up.

However, right before the procedure began, Wrecker’s agitation resulted in his Order 66 programming fully activating, and he subsequently attacked his teammates and Omega. If it wasn’t for a well-timed stun blast from Rex, Wrecker would have killed the young female clone, but thankfully that didn’t happen. “Battle Scars” ended with Wrecker, Hunter, Tech and Echo finally being freed from their chips, and Rex bid the squad adieu to the squad to continue his heroic journey (we know where he ultimately ends up thanks to Star Wars Rebels) while they still figure out their place in the universe. Unfortunately, the Batch’s location has now been passed along to the Empire after they were spotted by the Scrapper Guild, but that’s a story for next week.

Unfortunately, there’s still one member of the original Bad Batch whose inhibitor chip is still intact. Unlike the squad’s other members, Crosshair was partially affected by Order 66 when it was activated by Palpatine, resulting in him nearly killing Caleb Dume, a.k.a. the future Kanan Jarrus. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Admiral Tarkin had Crosshair’s chip enhanced, so now he’s carrying out the will of the Empire and has no problem with capturing or killing his former teammates. Whether Crosshair’s Order 66 programming will eventually be wiped away or if he’s permanently on Team Empire remains to be seen, but at least the Batch knows there’s a way to remove his chip should they find a way to subdue him when their paths cross again.

New episodes of Star Wars: The Bad Batch premiere Fridays on Disney+, so make sure you’re subscribed to the streaming service to follow along. And as always, keep visiting CinemaBlend for the latest and greatest news concerning Star Wars movies and TV shows.

General spoilers below for Jupiter's Legacy, so be warned if you haven't yet watched!

Netflix's Jupiter's Legacy marks comic book creator Mark Millar's first adaptation through his mega-deal with the streaming service - the Big Bang of the Millarverse, if you will. The big-budget drama flips between two different timelines, one focusing on the familial superhero team The Union in the present day, and one set in the past that tells the story of how those heroes (and eventual villains) came into being. Star Wars voice actor Matt Lanter, who winningly brought The Clone Wars' Anakin Skywalker to life, features heavily in the 1930s timeline as George Hutchence, the charismatic BFF to Josh Duhamel's Sheldon Sampson. He's mysteriously absent from most of the modern storyline, however.

It's likely the Jupiter's Legacy creative team felt there were already enough moving parts to introduce in these first eight episodes that George's post-1930s future as Skyfox would be easier to explore in a second season without having to sacrifice anything. Which meant the pressure was on Matt Lanter to make George as memorable and impactful a protagonist as possible without entering into 95% of the superpowered action sequences. So as one might imagine, the actor was first able to find parallels between his name-changing hero-turned-villain in Jupiter's Legacy and the one he portrayed in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Speaking with press ahead of Season 1's premiere on Netflix, Lanter said this when asked to compare playing George and Anakin:

On the George/Skyfox side of things, Matt Lanter is speaking to elements that viewers aren't entirely privy to at this point, but are recognizable to those who read Mark Millar and Frank Quitely's Jupiter's Legacy and Jupiter's Circle comic series. There's no reason to go into that here, since it's hard to know what might change from the comics for the TV story, but suffice to say George and Walt's chiding and unfriendly spark grows into an inferno. But the comparative points he made are completely apt, with Skyfox arguably being quite a bit more of a relatable villain than than that evil bastard Darth Vader.

The bulk of George's development throughout Jupiter's Legacy Season 1 is tied to his closeness with the Sampson family, hinging largely on his friendship and support of the increasingly maddened Sheldon. So Matt Lanter had to dig into those moments to show audiences what George's true essence was, and in that way, the actor was also able to reflect on his time portraying Anakin Skywalker, particularly in developing his relationship with Ahsoka Tano (as voiced by the excellent Ashley Eckstein). Lanter , who may one day voice Anakin again, said this when asked how he approached his onscreen kinship with Josh Duhamel:

Josh Duhamel, Ben Daniels, Leslie Bibb, and Mike Wade were each able to show the before-and-after versions of their characters throughout the first season of Jupiter's Legacy, and how Sheldon's Code affected their relationships with family members and the outside world. Conversely, George only allowed Matt Lanter the time to play up the kind of hero that George Hutchence, father of Ian Quinlan's future-villain Hutch (somehow), might be as a member of the Union without twirling his metaphorical mustache with any villainous verve. And while it's almost hard to believe that anybody could ever buy into Sheldon's scrawled map and his ship scheme, Lanter plays George in such a way that feels truly genuine (also somehow).

I asked Matt Lanter about his thought process in going a full season where George is spoken of as the world's greatest supervillain without ever really showing audiences that he's anything more than loyal and dependable. In his words:

While he was speaking more loosely about the character's future, Matt Lanter spoke to the idea that the Netflix TV series from showrunner Sang Kyu Kim (who took over after creator Steven S. DeKnight's exit) might lean into Skyfox's notoriety as a mega-double-decker-supervillain might be overhype promoted by the likes of the hyper-telekinetic Walt as Brainwave, whose string-pulling actions behind Sheldon's back were revealed in the Season 1 finale. Could it be possible that the live-action Jupiter's Legacy will reveal all of George's villainy was just Walt's mindgames? Lanter continued:

It would be a massive gut punch for Jupiter's Legacy comic fans, and anyone who digs the TV show, if Netflix didn't order up a second season to wrap up everything that wasn't shown in Season 1. Plus, Skyfox is pretty badass, as seen both in the source material and in his brawl with Brainwave, so who wouldn't want to see more of that? And if they wanted to give him a weapon that looked like a certain weapon wielded by a certain Sith lord, that'd be cool, too.

Jupiter's Legacy Season 1 is available to stream in full on Netflix, with hopefully more news coming soon about whether or not we can expect to see Season 2. Everything in our 2021 Summer TV schedule should offer something to dive into while waiting, though.

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After months of anticipation, Star Wars: The Bad Batch has finally arrived! The new animated series continues the adventures of the eccentric Clone Force 99 and further expands upon the mythology established by Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Bad Batch’s premise is pretty much known at this point, but one thing fans have still been pondering is Season 1’s episode count. Now, one of the show’s creatives has provided an answer.

When the final season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars arrived last year, it ran for a total of 12 episodes. This led many to assume that The Bad Batch would probably have a similar run. However, supervising director Brad Rau has just revealed some news to CNET that is sure to make fans quite happy:

So it turns out Star Wars fans can expect 16 episodes of The Bad Batch for its debut season. While it doesn’t quite reach the 22-episode count of past seasons of Clone Wars or Rebels, it still gives the creators plenty of time to tell some exciting stories.

It should be pointed out that Brad Rau’s comments also seem to indicate that he’s received no official word on a Season 2 renewal. Disney and Lucasfilm are likely taking their time and waiting to see how well received the show will be. As of right now, reviews have been mostly positive, so that could bode well for the show’s chances of getting future seasons.

Star Wars: The Bad Batch reintroduces audiences to the titular team that was originally introduced during Clone Wars’ final season. Now, we’ll see the team exploring the galaxy in a post-Revenge of the Sith world, in which the Galactic Empire reigns. The team will also run into a few familiar faces along the way, including The Mandalorian’s Fennec Shand.

Having such a rich and interesting period of time in the Star Wars universe gives the show a number of opportunities to bring in characters from a number of different places. So if viewers do want more, the producers would likely have no trouble coming up with additional stories for Clone Force 99. You can check out Star Wars TV shows by streaming it on Disney+, which you can sign up for using this link.

The future may not be set quite yet for Star Wars: The Bad Batch, but it’s good to know that we can at least look forward to 16 glorious episodes of action, humor and heart. You can stream the show on Disney+ now.

Disney +’s ever-expanding content selection has grown quite a bit since the platform launched back in 2019. The latest show heading to the streamer is Star Wars: The Bad Batch, a Clone Wars spinoff series that follows Clone Force 99 in the aftermath of Order 66. The animated series is set to release on Disney + starting May 4th (Star Wars Day, of course). However, some critics have already seen the first two episodes and took to social media to share their thoughts.

While the critics have only seen the first two episodes of Star Wars: The Bad Batch - and late embargo lifts usually indicate more disastrous projects - it sounds like fans can look forward to a promising follow up to Clone Wars, as CinemaBlend’s Adam Holmes shared as much on Twitter:

Honestly, that sounds like great news. Fans have been eagerly waiting for Dave Filoni’s follow-up series since Clone Wars wrapped up its long-awaited final season last year. Even Sam Witwer, who voiced fan favorite Maul on Clone Wars, accidentally let his excitement for the series slip on a Twitch live stream last year. ComicBook.com's Brandon Davis shared in Witwer’s excitement, noting the world building, characters and animation of The Bad Batch:

Charlie Ashby, host of The Imperial Senate Podcast, shared in the hype for The Bad Batch. He made sure to point out that fans of Clone Wars will probably enjoy the series, especially the familiar animation, but The Bad Batch is a completely different show from a story perspective.

That being said, Adam Frazier, who has written for Slashfilm and FirstShowing.net, noted that a character featured in the early days of Clone Wars has made a surprise appearance early in The Bad Batch. So, while it sounds like the story will be fresh, there are still familiar faces along the way.

Fortunately, it looks like fans are in for a wonderful follow up to the wildly popular Clone Wars. Although critics have only seen the first two episodes of The Bad Batch, the social reviews have been resoundingly positive. It looks like Disney + may have another Star Wars hit on their hands. Whether it will perform as well as The Mandalorian remains to be seen, but if these early reviews are any indication I think it’s safe to say there will be quite a few eyeballs on The Bad Batch tomorrow.

Fans can check out Star Wars: The Bad Batch on Disney + tomorrow, May 4th 2021. The show will follow a misfit group of Clone Troopers as they adventure across the galaxy far, far away. The Bad Batch picks up after the events of Clone Wars and will reportedly run for 16 episodes.

Star Wars has used animation to fill in a lot of blanks when it comes to the story of Anakin Skywalker, starting with The Clone Wars. Matt Lanter stepped in to voice the character previously played by James Earl Jones and Hayden Christensen. With The Clone Wars pretty conclusively over as of Season 7 and follow-up Star Wars Rebels wrapped after four seasons, there was no certainty that Lanter would be called upon to play Anakin again, but now the actor has big news for fans.

Soon to arrive at Netflix with the premiere of the upcoming Jupiter's Legacy, Matt Lanter spoke with EW about his future with the Star Wars franchise, saying:

Matt Lanter's time voicing Anakin didn't end just because the final season of The Clone Wars released on Disney+ in 2020. Considering the secrecy surrounding the Star Wars franchise in general, it's not surprising that Lanter didn't give away what projects he has worked on as Anakin since The Clone Wars, but there's at least one animated Star Wars TV show that has already been confirmed: The Bad Batch.

Star Wars: The Bad Batch will debut in less than a week as the latest major animated Star Wars TV show, and the show actually has its origins in the final season of The Clone Wars thanks to the introduction of the Bad Batch group of Clone Troopers with unique genetic mutations. There is no news one way or the other at this point if Matt Lanter's Anakin Skywalker will make an appearance, and it may depend almost entirely on when in the Star Wars timeline The Bad Batch falls.

Anything set after the events of Revenge of the Sith would seemingly require the voice talents of James Earl Jones, or somebody who could manage a good impression, to play the Darth Vader version of the character. The premise of The Bad Batch seems more suited to a show set after the prequel trilogy era but well before the beginning of Star Wars Rebels. At the same time, Rebels proved that there are always ways for Matt Lanter to return to the character even in projects set in the Vader era.

Whether or not Matt Lanter's Anakin turns up in The Bad Batch, I think it's safe to say that Star Wars isn't going to be done with animation after premiering the series that is going to feature a whole lot of Dee Bradley Baker. Plus, Lanter himself mentioned the possibility of voicing Anakin for a video game, so we shouldn't count that out as at least one way that he could return to his Star Wars character. There are always going to be more Star Wars projects!

For now, you can revisit Matt Lanter's earlier days as Anakin Skywalker with the full run of Star Wars: The Clone Wars streaming on Disney+, as well as Lanter's episodes of Star Wars Rebels, and even Star Wars Forces of Destiny. As for Star Wars: The Bad Batch, the next Star Wars TV show will premiere on Disney+ (with or without Lanter) on May 4, a.k.a. May the Fourth, or Star Wars Day.

As you may or may not be aware, voice actor Tom Kenny has been the voice of SpongeBob Squarepants on the iconic Nickelodeon series of the same name since 1999. Of course, many might also remember him from Adventure Time as the Ice King. However, there are likely a whole lot more movies and TV shows that you know him from without even realizing it.

In fact, it took a while to sift through nearly the 500 acting credits of the 58-year-old former stand-up comedian - not even counting his 2021 new movie releases (namely The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run on Paramount+). Luckily, I managed to narrow it down to 12 movies and TV shows of both an animated and live-action variety that present Tom Kenny at his best outside of Bikini Bottom. See if you remember spotting (or hearing) the man behind SpongeBob Squarepants as any of the following characters, starting with one of his more iconic villains.

Adventure Time (Ice King, Various)

It is hard to imagine the voice of SpongeBob playing anyone other than an innocent, child-like dolt, but Tom Kenny was Finn the Human and Jake the Dog’s arch-nemesis from 2010-2018. Yet, the Ice King was not even his first (and far from the last) character on the Cartoon Network hit Adventure Time (such as Lumpy Space King of Ice King’s hench-penguin Gunter), which is pretty common in his voice acting career. For instance…

Rocko’s Modern Life (Heffer Wolfe, Various)

Before landing a lead Nicktoons role, Tom Kenny was the slow-witted sidekick to Carlos Alazraqui’s titular Australian wallaby on Rocko’s Modern Life as Heffer - a male cow raised by wolves. Kenny also voiced Chuck Chameleon and Really Really Big Man among other on what was actually his first collaboration with late SpongeBob Squarepants creator Stephen Hillenburg, who also co-created the bizarre and often dark comedy in the early 1990s.

Mr. Show With Bob And David (Various)

In the mid-to-late 1990s, Tom Kenny's live-action talents were most prominently brought to light on Mr. Show with Bob and David. The “Bob and David” of the groundbreaking HBO sketch comedy series’ title are Breaking Bad and Nobody star Bob Odenkirk and Arrested Development’s David Cross, who would reboot the show on Netflix as W/ Bob and David, with Kenny returning, for another aggressively weird season in 2015.

CatDog (Dog, Various)

Speaking of aggressive weirdness, this classic Nicktoon, starring Tom Kenny as the canine half of a conjoined, inner-species brotherly duo, is a prime example of his reputation for playing slow-witted sidekicks before SpongeBob. Kenny also frequently voiced a tough bulldog named Cliff on CatDog, on which Kenny’s future Winnie the Pooh co-star Jim Cummings played his feline brother from 1998 until 2005.

Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends (Eduardo, Various)

Tom Kenny also was able work with many voice acting greats, including DC animated TV show veterans Phil LaMarr and Grey Griffin (née DeLisle), on this highly imaginative hit Cartoon Network show that won six Emmy Awards during its 2004-2009 run. Once again, Kenny had the liberty of playing multiple characters on Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, but his best-known role was the two-horned, two-eyed, Spanish-accented, purple people protector Eduardo.

The Powerpuff Girls (Narrator, Mayor)

Speaking of colorful people protectors, this other Cartoon Network classic about a trio of young girls with superpowers saw Tom Kenny show off his booming announcer voice, opening each episode with a reminder that it is set in the city of Townsville. He did not narrate The Powerpuff Girls’ 2016 revival as frequently as its 1998-2004 run, but did get to bring back his role as the Mayor quite often. I wonder if he has a chance at appearing on The CW’s live-action Powerpuff Girls series, which is now in the works.

Sky High (Mr. Timmerman)

If not, at least Tom Kenny can say he has starred in a live-action superhero movie before. In 2005’s underrated Disney gem Sky High, he and his real-life wife and Mr. Show co-star Jill Talley (also Plankton’s computer spouse, Karen, in the SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run cast) play a couple whose new house is almost destroyed by the titular school for young crimefighters after it literally falls from the sky.

The Batman (The Penguin)

In a rare instance of Tom Kenny playing just one character for an animated series’ entire run, he voiced bird-like villain The Penguin on The Batman (which follows a younger Bruce Wayne protecting Gotham) and the 2005 spin-off movie in which becomes Dracula’s minion. Of course, Kenny has played many additional DC characters, such as Mumbo on Teen Titans, Plastic Man (among others) on Batman: The Brave and the Bold, and Commissioner James Gordon on DC Super Hero Girls (again, among others).

Ultimate Spider-Man (Doctor Octopus, Vulture)

Tom Kenny has also voiced a plethora of Marvel characters, not counting a vocal cameo in Ant-Man as an ugly rabbit doll Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) gives young Cassie for her birthday. His personal record for most roles in a single Marvel adaptation comes from the animated Ultimate Spider-Man series, on which he has appeared as villains Doctor Octopus and Vulture most frequently.

The Transformers Movies (Wheelie, Skids)

Tom Kenny can also claim to be involved with both the live-action cinematic and modern animated TV adaptations of the Transformers franchise. As expected, he has an innumerable amount of characters from the show, but appears as both Decepticon Wheelie and controversial twin Autobot Skids in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, reprised Wheelie as a full-fledge Autobot in Transformers: Dark of the Moon, and later appeared as the tiny alien robot again in Transformers: The Last Knight in 2017.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Greedo, Various)

On the other hand, Tom Kenny has yet to appear in any live-action Star Wars movies, but still has a prominent role of the universe through lending his voice to many well-known characters. He has played the likes of Greedo (the one Han shot first at) and Nute Gunray on the animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars series, in addition to voicing X-wing pilot, and friend of Luke Skywalker, Biggs Darklighter in two Star Wars: Rogue Squadron video games.

The Spyro Video Games (Spyro, Various)

Speaking of video games, Tom Kenny has appeared in many, including several that are related to SpongeBob Squarepants if you can believe it. His most famous video game-specific character, however, would have to be Spyro - the purple dragon, which he has been voicing since the second installment of the series, 1999’s Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage.

At 22 years, Tom Kenny has been voicing Spyro as long as he has played SpongeBob, but the porous, yellow bottom dweller is easily his defining role and one he is far from finished playing. After more than 200 episodes of SpongeBob Squarepants, three movies, and the prequel series Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years, now Bill Fagerbakke’s Patrick Star is getting his own spin-off which Kenny is also set appear on. I guess we have no choice but to be “ready.”

Star Wars: The Clone Wars came to an emotionally satisfying conclusion when Disney+ dropped the long-hoped-for seventh season last year. Unsurprisingly though, fans wanted more from the world of Clone Wars and, now, they’re going to get it in the form of spinoff series Star Wars: The Bad Batch. The show focuses on the adventures of the enhanced Clone Force 99 as they navigate the galaxy in the aftermath of the Clone Wars. This puts them in a prime position to cross paths with some notable Star Wars characters, and there are a few in particular that really need to appear on the show.

Thanks to trailers, we've learned that established franchise figures will appear on the show, ranging from classic characters like Emperor Palpatine and Grand Moff Tarkin and newer additions like Captain Rex and Fennec Shand. With this in mind, it wouldn’t be surprising if creator Dave Filoni has a few more appearances planned. So let’s take a look at some of the characters that should appear on Star Wars: The Bad Batch:

Ahsoka Tano

Fans didn’t know what to make of young Ahsoka Tano when she first debuted in 2008’s  Star Wars: The Clone Wars film but, in the years since, she’s found a place not only in their hearts but in several TV shows as well. Ahsoka’s adventures have mostly taken place during the Clone Wars, but she was also instrumental during the reign of the Galactic Empire, as seen in Star War Rebels. And on The Mandalorian (set after the fall of the Empire), she set off on a journey to find missing Jedi Ezra Bridger.

Tano was one of the lone survivors of the The Great Jedi Purge and, as such, she was forced to go into hiding immediately after the rise of the Empire. This period of her life has been relatively unexplored up to this point, and Star Wars: The Bad Batch could shed some light on it. Clone Force 99 will likely cover a lot of ground in their travels across the galaxy, so there’s definitely a possibility they could run into the wayward Jedi. Plus, her appearance would be a great way to tide fans over ahead of her own show’s debut.

Darth Vader

Given that the Bad Batch will be a part of the Empire’s forces (at least initially), it wouldn’t be surprising at all if Darth Vader were to creep into the picture at some point. The Dark Lord of the Sith was, of course, the primary antagonist of the Original Trilogy, while the prequels showed his early years as Anakin Skywalker. And in the realm of animation, Vader appeared as a supporting character in Rebels and even made a cameo in the Clone Wars series finale.

Any potential Darth Vader appearance would likely be small, but he could still enter the story in a meaningful way. Based on the latest trailer, Grand Moff Tarkin will be watching Clone Force 99 closely and will even test them through training exercises. Who’s to say Darth Vader couldn’t be present for one of those demonstrations on behalf of the Emperor? Whatever the case, there’s plenty of potential for the iconic antagonist to appear in some capacity.

Thrawn

The Imperial influence on The Bad Batch appears to be strong right now, and there’s another imposing villain who could also appear -- Grand Admiral Thrawn. For years, the fan-favorite character was limited to novels, many of which are no longer canon. However, Dave Filoni revived Thrawn by bringing him into Star Wars Rebels as a main antagonist in the final two seasons.

Despite his devotion to the Empire, Thrawn wasn’t always a high-ranking Imperial officer. He once travelled across the Outer Rim after leaving his homeworld, and this is where The Bad Batch could find him. As Clone Force 99 ventures across the galaxy, they could easily meet a pre-Imperial Thrawn, which would provide audiences with a fresh take on the imposing villain.

Kanan Jarrus

Jedi may have been rare following the Clone Wars, but Ahsoka Tano and Obi-Wan Kenobi weren’t the only ones still roaming the galaxy. There’s also Kanan Jarrus (originally known as young padawan Caleb Dume), who escaped Order 66. Most know Kanan as a major character on Rebels, where we know him as a member of the Ghost crew -- a ragtag team of rebels.

Comics have filled in the blanks on some of Kanan’s history, but it would be nice to get further details on his exploits in the immediate aftermath of the Clone Wars. With this, The Bad Batch could give us a younger Kanan, who’s trying to lay low amid the Empire’s rule. And because young Kanan did work as a smuggler, there’s a firm chance the titular clone troopers could meet him at some point.

Hondo Ohnaka

If you’ve watched any animated Star Wars series over the past decade (or even ridden a theme park attraction), then you undoubtedly know who Hondo Ohnaka is. The pirate, outlaw and smuggler became a major fixture on The Clone Wars before making his way to Rebels. Now, The Bad Batch could potentially serve as another prime place for him to show his face again.

When audiences first meet Hondo, he was the leader of the Ohnaka Gang, though the group of pirates eventually broke up some time after the rise of the Empire. The Bad Batch could potentially provide viewers with a better idea of how Hondo’s pirate gang split up and also show the character’s earliest schemes in the post-Clone Wars world. With the way Hondo gets around, it wouldn’t be hard for him to meet Clone Force 99 at all, and any encounter between him and the group is bound to be hilarious.

Grogu (Baby Yoda)

It’s safe to say that just about everyone knows the impossibly adorable Grogu (a.k.a. Baby Yoda) at this point. The diminutive, green alien made his surprising debut in the first season of The Mandalorian, and the rest is history. So far, Grogu has only appeared on the live-action Disney+ show and, after Season 2, it would appear that his time on the series is finished. However, Dave Filoni could indeed bring back his phenomenon-launching creation in The Bad Batch.

Audiences have only seen Grogu in a post-Return of the Jedi galaxy, but we learned in the second season of The Mandalorian that he was once a Jedi youngling at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. He was later rescued from the Great Jedi Purge, before being hidden for his safety. Where he was hidden immediately after that is anyone’s guess, but The Bad Batch could answer that question. It would be great to see the clones meet the powerful infant, and one can only imagine how they’d react to him.

Boba Fett

Even though Boba Fett has always been one of Star Wars most iconic characters, the famed bounty hunter has recently come back in a big way. He just made his triumphant return in Season 2 of The Mandalorian and is now getting his own spinoff series. Yet years earlier, a younger, less experienced Boba appeared on Star Wars: The Clone Wars. And this is exactly the Fett we can see again on The Bad Batch.

Boba Fett’s rise through the ranks was covered on Clone Wars, where he was the leader of a team of bounty hunters before he was usurped. With The Bad Batch picking up after that show, it could show a slightly older Boba show up and cross paths with Clone Force 99. The meeting would be intense, to say the least, but having Fett (Jango’s original clone) meet up with fellow clones could certainly be interesting.

Each and every one of these characters would make great additions to the upcoming show and, hopefully, we’ll get to see some of them pop up during its run. Star Wars: The Bad Batch premieres on Disney+ on May 4th.

There are a number of exciting Star Wars TV shows on the horizon, but one that’s really getting fans pumped is Disney+’s Obi-Wan Kenobi. The limited series will mark the long-awaited return of Ewan McGregor, who will be re-donning his Jedi robes for a new story set between the events of Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. Of course, McGregor’s Obi-Wan won’t be the only returning character, as he’ll be joined by Hayden Christensen’s Darth Vader. It wouldn’t be surprising if the show also brings back other characters as well, but could Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ Satine be brought back -- and should she?

Clone Wars fans are sure to be familiar with Satine Kryze given the major role she played over the course of several seasons. Introduced in Season 2’s “The Mandalore Plot,” Satine was established as the pacifist leader of Mandalore, whose ways earned her quite a few enemies both on and off Mandalore. However, what was arguably the most surprising aspect of her story is that she and Obi-Wan were once in love. Clone Wars’ exploration of their past and their relationship in the present was compelling, which made it all the more devastating when Satine was murdered by Maul right in front of Kenobi.

Despite Satine’s tragic demise, Star Wars fans know very well that death doesn’t necessarily span the end for a character in this franchise. There are still a few ways Satine can return and make her live-action debut in Obi-Wan Kenobi. However, one has to consider whether or not the character should even be included in the new show. So why don’t we weigh how Satine can be used and whether it not she should be utilized in the story at all:

How Can Satine Kryze Be Brought Into Obi-Wan Kenobi?

As previously mentioned, Obi-Wan Kenobi takes place during the two-decade gap between Star Wars Episodes III and IV, specifically the period in which Kenobi remained in hiding on Tatooine. So this would be years after Satine’s death in The Clone Wars. However, that doesn’t mean she can’t still make an appearance. The obvious solution is that Satine can be resurrected through the use of flashbacks. We may not know much about Obi-Wan’s time on Tatooine (aside from the few things we’ve learned through comics), but one can imagine that it gives him time to be reflective, and his deceased love may be on his mind.

Chronicling Obi-Wan and Satine’s relationship through flashbacks would provide more insight into their relationship. But if not with flashbacks, showrunner Deborah Chow and her team can take a different kind of approach. Satine could return to Kenobi in the form of mental visions. Not as a Force ghost, think more of Kylo Ren’s encounter with Han Solo in The Rise of Skywalker. Obi-Wan Kenobi is a haunted individual and such a vision (or two) would be a way of having him confront different shadows of his past.

Both of these methods serve as practical ways to bring Satine back, especially considering that the Star Wars franchise has employed both before. And her presence would absolutely create more connective tissue within the franchise. But should she really be brought back for either kind of role?

Should Obi-Wan Kenobi Actually Bring Back Satine At All?

It’s not uncommon for Star Wars movies or shows to circle back and tie up loose ends from past projects. The Mandalorian alone is clear evidence of that fact. So the chances of Satine playing some role in Obi-Wan Kenobi aren’t necessarily slim. But for the sake of the story, it may actually be best not to bring her into the story.

Over the course of several seasons, Star Wars: The Clone Wars gave us quite a bit of Obi-Wan and Satine together. The show not only gave the two former lovers intimate time together, but it also gave them a number of cool moments that saw them fighting side by side. The series also filled in a number of blanks regarding their early years together. All in all, Clone Wars managed to paint a nice picture of their relationship, eventually bringing it to a solemn yet definitive conclusion. Given how well their relationship was covered on that show, there really isn’t much reason to pull on that thread again. Fans understand the emotional heft of their relationship, and anything else may feel excessive.

Despite Satine’s importance to Obi-Wan Kenobi’s characterization, the upcoming show would be much better served by focusing on other aspects of his current situation. As mentioned by showrunner Deborah Chow during Disney’s Investor Day sizzle reel, this is a dark and dangerous time for Obi-Wan. She even mentioned Jedi hunters -- presumably Inquisitors. There’s also the fact that Kenobi also has the task of watching over young Luke Skywalker. And on top of all this, there are plenty of elements the show can introduce on its own. As mentioned, there are still a few unknowns regarding Kenobi’s time on Tatoonine. Who knows what else he could’ve gotten into while he was in exile?

So all in all, having Satine on Obi-Wan Kenobi wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. However, her story (at least in regard to Obi-Wan’s journey) feels like it's been told. With this, the show should look ahead to bringing other elements into Kenobi’s life. Nostalgia is a powerful thing, especially when it comes to Star Wars, and the franchise has been venturing into familiar territory as of late. And while this show does center on a character we know, hopefully, it’ll add some new elements to the canon.

Even though Satine may not be the best fit for the story Obi-Wan Kenobi appears to be aiming to tell, she’s definitely still a great character. The fact that Star Wars fans continue to discuss Satine is a testament to how important she has become to Star Wars lore. And who knows… maybe fans will get the opportunity to see her in some other capacity in the future?

Obi-Wan Kenobi is set to kick off production soon and, ahead of its release, you can check out the Jedi with Satine by streaming Star Wars: The Clone Wars on Disney+.