We had the absolute priviledge of checking out the latest chapter in the Star Wars saga. Formed of 6 mini episodes, Tales of the Jedi dives into the lives of Ahsoka Tano and Count Dooku. Revisiting the style that fans fell in love with from The Clone Wars, Tales of the Jedi is a visual treat that further proves just how powerful animation can be, and what stellar storytelling looks like. You can catch all 6 episodes of Tales of the Jedi exclusively on Disney+ right now!
Synopsis
Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi is an anthology of six all-new animated shorts produced by Lucasfilm Animation and created by Dave Filoni (“Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” “Star Wars Rebels”). Based on Star Wars and characters created by George Lucas, the series is set during the prequel era and spotlights important moments in the lives of fan-favorite characters Ahsoka Tano and Jedi-turned-Sith Lord Count Dooku as they embark on respective paths toward heroism and villainy. Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi features the voices of Ashley Eckstein as Ahsoka Tano; Corey Burton as Count Dooku; Janina Gavankar as Ahsoka’s mother, Pav-ti; Micheal Richardson as young Qui-Gon Jinn; TC Carson as Mace Windu; Ian McDiarmid as Darth Sidious; Liam Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn; Phil Lamarr as Bail Organa; Clancy Brown as Inquisitor; Matt Lanter as Anakin Skywalker; and James Arnold Taylor as Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Review
So, episode lengths vary in this series. Some are 10 minutes long, while others are 17. To fully explore this limited series, we’re going to cover each episode in this one post so that you can get a feel for the show in its entirety, especially since some of the episodes overlap and connect. Of course, no spoilers will be discussed in this review- we’re not animals. After sitting down and binging the entire series, I can confirm that going in blind is the best way to enjoy Tales of the Jedi fully. Let’s jump right in!
Life and Death
A lot of people are going to love Tales of the Jedi because of its decision to explore beloved characters in detail. Ahsoka Tano is still one of the most popular characters in the Star Wars universe, but her past has always remained somewhat blank. Now, we know what happens to younglings who are Force sensitive, that’s no secret. But what’s fascinating is the journey to that discovery. Life and Death focuses purely on a baby Ahsoka whose powers are currently dormant. We get to witness what life is like on Shili, and that includes their ordinary daily routine as well as their more spiritualised lifestyle which is reminiscent of a unified and basic tribe- not primitive, but basic. Although, anyone living in Corusant would absolutely refer to them as primitive.
What’s fun about this episode is that we get to see Ahsoka’s parents, which in itself is a huge deal for Tano fans. Exploring this side of Ahsoka’s life was an absolute treat. Not only does it enhance our understanding of her character, but it also expands our own understanding of the various cultures, life styles, even creatures that are spread throughout the galaxy. Life and Death is fun and playful, but it also wrestles with much darker themes surrounding death and preservation. If anything, this episode laid down the foundations and makes us aware that while there is light… There is also darkness- a theme that is very much prevalent in the subsequent episodes.
Justice
This episode may be my favourite for many different reasons. The main reason is that we get to see Count Dooku in an entirely new light. There’s something incredibly gripping about his presence as a Jedi, but it’s weighed down by this anchor of sadness because we know about his gradual turn. It’s almost as though this episode acts as a catalyst. Much like Qui-Gon Jinn, Count Dooku had his reservations about the political climate and utilisation of the Jedi Council, this episode basically explores that spark which ignites Dooku’s downfall. Accompanied by his Padawan, Qui-Gon Jinn, Dooku travels to a nearby planet to rescue a senator’s son who has been kidnapped. However, all is not what it seems and the lines between good and bad become blurred.
Justice is an action-packed episode full of Jedi goodness, brilliant character development on Dooku’s part, and a fantastic soundtrack that elevates one of the most intense confrontations I’ve seen in Star Wars’ animated world since Ahsoka vs Maul. While it definitely isn’t of that same calibre, I was sat at 1:30am with goosebumps. This episode is thematically very dark, and it truly embraces those elements that made Clone Wars stand out as a show that wasn’t just for kids. It is absolutely brilliant seeing both Dooku and Jinn together because you can see how Dooku influenced Jinn. There’s also this contrast in regards to how Dooku carries himself and how Jinn does. They are both very different characters, yet it seems as though it is Jinn’s light that is stopping Dooku from completely submitting to the darkness within. With that in mind, it makes Dooku’s turn to the Dark Side drastically more tragic.
Choices
Sticking with Dooku, Choices sees the falling Jedi team up with Mace Windu to uncover the truth behind the death of a fellow Jedi. Once again, this episode reveals that darkness lurks in every corner of the galaxy and takes many different forms. Without Qui-Gon to keep him in check, Dooku is a lot more radical in regards to expressing his views. He’s definitely more sour and the Dooku that we know is gradually surfacing. We’ve only ever seen Mace and Dooku as enemies, so to see them work together was a lot of fun but it’s obvious that they don’t make the most harmonious team. While this episode isn’t as strong as Justice or as shocking as The Sith Lord, this episode exists to further highlight Dooku’s interal struggles and frustrations. He’s on the cusp of falling and all it’s going to take is a slight push.
What these episodes do so brilliantly, especially for Dooku, is dive into aspects of the lore that haven’t been filled. Whether it’s Dooku or Ahsoka, Tales of the Jedi expands on what we know. Choices is a perfect example of that escalation. It’s also a great tease as to what’s to come…
The Sith Lord
I love Ahsoka so dearly and I really thought that Ahsoka was going to be the star of this limited series. That’s not a criticism towards Ahsoka’s episodes, not in the slightest. It’s more about the fact that I was so surprised by how they handled Dooku and his progression to the Dark Side. This episode reveals the turning point for Dooku, as well as that sudden plummet to darkness. The previous episodes have always seen Dooku on the fence, but The Sith Lord sees him fully commit to his new master. This episode takes place just after the events of The Phantom Menace and actually reveals more about certain things that triggered the Clone Wars in Attack of the Clones.
The Sith Lord is a visual spectacle with brilliant action, tragic revelations, and just fantastic storytelling. The Clone Wars has always excelled in regards to lightsaber combat and this episode absolutely continues that tradition. However, it is Dooku’s portrayal that steals the show. In a short amount of time, we’re able to understand and even sympathise with Dooku. We understand his frustrations and in the end, much like Anakin, he fell to Palpatine’s manipulations. It’s a very different side to Dooku, and having him share this episode with a character such as Yaddle, who hasn’t really been seen in any capacity, was a brilliant decision. It’s amazing what animation can do in such a short amount of time. I have many favourite episodes across The Clone Wars and Rebels, and The Sith Lord easily joins that list.
Practice Makes Perfect
Back to Ahsoka Tano for the last two episodes, and boy do they hurt. In a way, I think it’s because these two are so deeply connected to The Clone Wars, as well as Ahsoka’s future post Revenge of the Sith. Practice Makes Perfect is an incredibly tough episode. What do I mean by this? Well, this entire episode is dedicated to Ahsoka’s teachings. We see her absolutely nail a training program ran by droids, but Anakin knows the truth… Nothing can prepare you for the war that awaits. In order to properly train Ahsoka, Anakin introduces her to a more… unorthodox training exorcise, one that tests her resolve and ability to master the Force and all of its subtleties.
What this episode does so brilliantly is tie itself to a very powerful scene from Season 7. It’s absolutely genius, simply put. It is further proof that while Anakin wasn’t given the rank of Master, he knew exactly what he needed to teach Ahsoka in order to keep her safe. In a way, Ahsoka is where she is now not just because of her skill, but because of Anakin’s training and this episode captures that perfectly.
Resolve
My one hope for this series is that it spawns further specials that delve deep into Star Wars. Whether it’s new characters or familiar ones, there are so many stories that can be expanded and explored. Resolve is a perfect example of that ability. Taking place after the events of Season 7, but during the finale of Revenge of the Sith, Resolve sees Ahsoka attend the funeral of Padme and then map out what she needs to do next following the demise of the Jedi. Reminiscent of E.K Johnston’s novel, Ahsoka takes refuge on a distant planet and ditches the name Ahsoka. While spending her days working and learning about what people think of the Jedi and the Empire, her past soon catches up with her when an Inquisitor appears in seach of a particular Jedi…
The Inquisitor is probably one of the coolest villains to appear in Star Wars for quite sometime, visually that is. Unfortunately, his role is limited but it feels deliberate. Again, it reminds me of the final duel between Obi-Wan and Maul, where it isn’t about the fight itself… It’s about the consequences and that build up to the fight. Jedi like Obi-Wan, Yoda, and Ahsoka all tried to remain hidden but it never worked out for them. They’re forced back into the fight and this episode is all about that realisation. It’s a gripping finale that highlights a divide, there are those that support the Empire and those that do not. As with any Star Wars project, we also come face to face with the brutality of the Empire, and that’s something that Ahsoka learns first-hand.
Verdict
Tales of the Jedi is no Clone Wars, although that is an impossible standard to aspire to. However, this limited series is utterly brilliant due to its ability to build on top of the Prequel trilogy and The Clone Wars. It is packed full of action, but what makes this series truly stand out is its dedication to the darker elements of the Star Wars universe. Its handling of Count Dooku absolutely transforms the character entirely and adds this beautiful yet tragic layer. Star Wars fans are going to absolutely love Tales of the Jedi, and I hope this is just the beginning..
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Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi debuts October 26th, 2022, exclusively on Disney+. Will you be checking out Tales of the Jedi? Let us know your thoughts in the comments! And be sure to check out more from a galaxy far, far away here.
