Lucasfilm has once again revisted the prequel era with Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi. Centered on Count Dooku and Ahsoka Tano, the new animated series has provided new insights on the Republic and the Jedi Order. The prequel era has always been Star Wars at its most ambitious, showcasing the transformation of a democracy into a dictatorship (via Vox). Both Dooku and Ahsoka recognized the fall of the Republic, but had different responses to the galaxy-wide crisis.
Like its predecessors, Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels, Tales of the Jedi has been well-received by the fans. The sequel trilogy suffered from a lack of proper direction, but the animated projects have always had a much clearer vision. Lucasfilm has not announced a second season as yet, but if Tales of the Jedi were to conclude with its six-episode run, it would still be remembered fondly in the future. Here are all episodes in the first season of Tales of the Jedi, ranked.
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6 Episode 1: Life and Death
Disney+
The first episode of Tales of the Jedi, “Life and Death,” was arguably the weakest episode in the series. “Life and Death” introduced a baby Ahsoka Tano and her parents, but it was also very predictable. Pav-ti, Ahsoka’s mother, and her hunt in the forest was nothing we haven’t seen before. In the end, “Life and Death” featured a generic encounter with a beast and did not add much to Ahsoka’s story or the Star Wars universe.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
5 Episode 2: Justice
Lucasfilm Ltd.
“Justice” featured a younger Dooku and Qui-Gon Jinn as they set out on a mission to rescue a senator’s son. During the mission, the two Jedi discovered the senator’s history of neglecting and starving the kidnappers’ people. The episode teased Dooku’s fall to the dark side, with him nearly killing the senator. It was a straight-forward episode, and added some depth to the somewhat underdeveloped character from the prequel trilogy.
4 Episode 3: Choices
Jedi playing detective has always been a fascinating yet underutilized concept in Star Wars. In “Choices,” Dooku and Mace Windu investigated the mysterious death of Jedi Master Katri. Their findings led to Dooku questioning the Jedi’s role in the galaxy, and whether they were lapdogs of the Senate. There was a contrast between Dooku and Windu, with the latter being a Jedi that played more by the rules.
3 Episode 6: Resolve
Star Wars fans have gotten to see Jedi-in-hiding in the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi and in the hit 2019 video game Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. Tales of the Jedi’s sixth episode, “Resolve,” focused on Ahsoka living a quiet life as a farmer in the aftermath of Order 66. Finding herself in a new and brutal world, she did her best to keep her identity a secret. Unfortunately, she was reported to the Empire, who showed no hesitation in slaughtering the villagers.
“Resolve” introduced a new Inquisitor who was pitted against Ahsoka. The battle ended as soon as it began, not dissimilar to Obi-Wan’s encounter with Maul in Star Wars Rebels. This episode was intense, well-paced, and somehow made Ahsoka an even more likable character. It also finally showed her setting her sights on the Rebellion.
2 Episode 5: Practice Makes Perfect
Ahsoka has become one of the most skilled warriors in the Star Wars universe, but it took lots of hard work for her to get there. In “Practice Makes Perfect,” she was given a difficult test, moving from training with remotes to training with 501st Legion clones. She initially struggled, but was able to significantly improve her skills over time. As said by Luke Skywalker in the second season of The Mandalorian, “talent without training is nothing.”
The training ultimately allowed Ahsoka to survive Order 66 and go on to help save the galaxy. “Practice Makes Perfect” also further developed the relationship between her and Anakin. Anakin took his duties as a master very seriously, wanting Ahsoka to be prepared for life-or-death situations. The best way he could do that was through teaching her how to protect herself.
1 Episode 4: The Sith Lord
Jedi Master Yaddle was a character created for Episode I - The Phantom Menace, who was given nothing to do and did not return in a future Star Wars film. Tales of the Jedi’s fourth episode, “The Sith Lord,” finally brought her back — and in spectacular fashion. After leaving the Council, Yaddle became one of the first to find out about Palpatine’s conspiracy. This drew her into conflict with Dooku, who was working with Palpatine.
With Yaddle knowing too much, Dooku was forced to slay his friend in order to keep his plans a secret. Had she survived, Palpatine would not have been able to succeed. “The Sith Lord” showcased a pivotal moment in Star Wars canon, feeling intimate while having massive stakes. For that reason, “The Sith Lord” has earned its spot as the best episode of Tales of the Jedi.
