Star Wars Tales of the Jedi: Short Insights
Being a true completionist for a franchise is made easier when the quality is this high. I'm glad to see Star Wars is in a mini-era of resurgence in 2023. This show is comprised of 6 bite-sized episodes, between roughly 10-15 minutes each. It focuses on two (former) Jedi - Ahsoka Tano and Count Dooku. In terms of the timeline, it fills some gaps and should definitely be watched after The Clone Wars but can be watched before Rebels. It goes without saying that you should have watched films 1 to 6 before all of this!
Watched as part of my catch-up on everything related to Ahsoka Tano before her 2023 live-action show.
Full spoilers follow.
Jump to sections below:
1: Life and Death
The animation is beautiful. The pacing and camerawork make this feel so different from other animated Star Wars properties, like an adult take on this space world. I appreciated the insight into Togruta culture and Ahsoka's very early childhood.
2: Justice
A completely new side of Dooku and Qui-Gon Jinn, yet also intimately familiar. Felt so Kurosawa-like in its monochrome depiction of a rundown town on the borders of civilisation, and two law enforcement officers dispatched to resolve the local conflict. This was how I imagined the 10,000 Jedi serving during the time of the Republic - peacekeepers and law enforcers going where they were needed, and having an air of mystique and calm power associated with them. The tension that was built in 10 minutes was fantastic, with some great music and animated facial expressions. A strong conclusion.
3: Choices
Dooku and Windu together, on the same side. Felt surreal, but there was a dispersed tension underlying every interaction. Again, this episode featured a highly satisfying snapshot in a Jedi mission. But as the timeline creeps closer to The Clone Wars, viewers can see the beginnings of incongruences between the Jedi values and modes of operation underneath the Galactic Senate. When the violence does come it is fast and messily real in its unpredictable destruction. I have to again commend how good the animation is on this series - coming from Rebels, which did fabricate its own style, this show feels like a distinct step up from even that of The Clone Wars S7 finale. Looking forward to the second half of Tales of the Jedi.
4: The Sith Lord
Watched on September 1st, 2023
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. This episode has made me realise that Star Wars is populated by characters like Dooku, who can have so much depth added to them with only 20 minutes of beautifully animated run-time. They do not need a whole show dedicated to them - but a Tale, or collection of them... this was chilling stuff. Seeing a Jedi master fall, knowing these events occur in parallel to The Phantom Menace, and gaining explanations behind minor but long-standing mysteries surrounding the events of the time. And to top it off, one of the most intense lightsaber battles of the series! The music and Sith influence was darkly spectacular. My only reason for not rating this higher is a lack of theme or lessons, but so far this show has greatly exceeded my expectations. I'm glad for it's limited run, as Filoni has clearly opted for quality over quantity.
5: Practice Makes Perfect
Watched on September 1st, 2023
It was nice to see early Clone Wars Anakin, Ahsoka and other Jedi again. You can really see Anakin's determination/ brutality come through as a teacher, and obviously we have a clear in-universe explanation for Ahsoka's uncanny lightsaber antics during Order 66 (Clone Wars S7 finale). A neat, short one.
6: Resolve
Watched on September 2nd, 2023
Being a Jedi/ force user post-Order 66 is a lonely life. Between labour jobs and Imperial sympathisers, a Jedi's will is likely to break or peter out. This episode has some nice continuity and features a scary Jedi hunter, but Ahsoka Tano though has grown into one of the coolest Star Wars characters - period.
Season 1 Ranking
- 2: Justice - 5/5
- 3: Choices - 4.5/5
- 4: The Sith Lord - 4/5
- 6: Resolve - 3.5/5
- 5: Practice Makes Perfect - 3/5
- 1: Life and Death - 3/5
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