Since 1977, Star Wars has been a cultural phenomenon that has spawned a plethora of media including books, comics, video games and of course, television shows. The first was in 1978 with the “Star Wars Holiday Special” and soon the “Ewoks” and “Droids” cartoons would come a few years after. In the following years, spinoff films and TV shows would tell new stories and continue to expand the Star Wars universe to new heights.
Over the course over the next few years, this universe will be bigger than ever as the stories move away from the Skywalkers and instead focus on others in the Galaxy. Side note, the rankings do not include Star Wars vintage shows and TV specials like “Ewoks” and “Star Wars: Clone Wars” as well as any Star Wars shorts or Lego specials. At this time it also doesn’t include “Star Wars: Visions” as this writer hasn’t watched it yet.
So, without further ado let’s hop into our hover pods like Grogu and rank the best of the Star Wars spinoffs!
*This post was updated on October 8, 2023.
13. Star Wars Resistance (2018-2020)
Out of all the Star Wars series released in the last 20 years, Resistance is definitely the most kid-friendly which hindered its quality at times. Following aspiring pilot Kazuda Xiono, the show takes place right before and during the sequel trilogy, which led to appearances from fan favourite characters like Poe Dameron. It’s a lot of fun and the characters are all very likeable, however, it lacks an engaging plot, mainly relying on standalone stories for each episode. Perhaps, if it was given more time the show could have grown into one of the greats, but instead it remains a great way to introduce the world of Star Wars to young Padawan’s.
12. Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008)
Before embarking on a seven season adventure, the early plot of The Clone Wars was established in this poorly received theatrical film. A big reason for that is because it was clear the movie was nothing more than an extended TV episode. The animation is stunning and matches what we would come to expect from the series, but the plot is rather bland. Obi-Wan and Anakin’s mission to rescue Jabba the Hutt’s kidnapped son trudges along, and the introduction of Ahsoka wasn’t as endearing as it could have been. Fortunately, the series fixes that problem and ensures that this film George Lucas once referred to as “almost an afterthought” would be revered in a much higher regard.
11. Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
The origin story for Han Solo had a lot of potential, as there were a lot to build off of from brief mentions throughout the original films, including how did Han get the Millennium Falcon from Lando? While the film does answer that question and many others, the overall plot is weak and doesn’t serve much of a greater purpose. Donald Glover and Phoebe Waller-Bridge do deliver highly entertaining performances, and the action sequences are also really well done and easily work with the intergalactic western atmosphere the film is trying give off. It’s a decent Star Wars movie that doesn’t necessarily meet the standards we’ve come to expect.
10. The Book of Boba Fett (2021-)
The idea of a show that followed a fan favourite mysterious character from the original films was exciting, but the execution of Boba’s story left a lot to be desired. Perhaps the bar was just too high amongst Boba Fett superfans, but the badass rogue bounty hunter was not presented as such. Instead the show began with long drawn out bacta tank sequences with flashbacks that were sleep inducing. Fennec Shand wasn’t used nearly as much as she should have been and the action only starts to pick up with the return of Mando and Grogu. When the series’ best episodes are the ones that don’t involve the main character, there is definitely an issue that needs to be fixed if we are ever expected to care about Boba again.
9. The Bad Batch (2021-)
It’s not always easy for a pilot episode to grab your attention so quickly, but “The Bad Batch” does just that. The action-packed premiere had everything a Star Wars fan could ask for; blaster battles, heart wrenching betrayals, and characters with great chemistry. Carrying the momentum from that first episode though has been a challenge for the series, with an inconsistent quality with each episode. Some standalone storylines have held the crew back, but thankfully, the long-term and multi-episode arcs are so well done that it’s easy to forget about the mundane plot points.
8. Andor (2022-)
Set five years ahead of the events of “Rogue One”, this series focuses on Andor, one of the most interesting and compelling characters in the film. It’s understandable why there is a series dedicated to his story, and Diego Luna encapsulates the character so well. The acting is so well done, and some storylines are really compelling. There is a lot that works about this series, especially its balance of finding light during such a bleak period in the galaxy. Yet, its pacing and need to focus on routine activities makes it incredibly slow. The flashbacks are also confusing and unnecessary. It’s one of those series I desperately wanted to enjoy but just couldn’t invest fully in with its slow moving pace.
7. Tales of the Jedi (2022)
This animated anthology series is for the diehard Star Wars fan with two distinctly deep rooted stories that follow Ahsoka Tano and Count Dooku. The episodes fly by but manage to pack in such important backstory for each character, helping to provide snapshots and explanations behind some of the biggest decisions these characters go on to make. It’s definitely not a show for any casual fan to dive into. It’s made for the Clone Wars fanatics and hopefully it isn’t a one off piece of quality television and instead is a platform to explore other Star Wars characters in this deeply meaningful way.
6. Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022)
The quality of the prequel films are a bit rocky. Thankfully “Obi-Wan Kenobi” leans into the greatness of “Revenge of the Sith” and adds a significant amount of depth to the character that was the heart of those prequels. Ewan McGregor delivers a powerful performance in this limited series as he transforms from a broken man into a man who finds the force and light within himself again. The new characters introduced don’t leave much of an impact as there wasn’t an ample amount of time to invest in their growth, but the characters we’ve come to know and love raise the bar to another level. Obi-Wan’s relationship with young Leia (the ultimate scene stealer) rivals some of the most heartwarming relationships in the franchise. Also getting the opportunity to see Darth Vader being driven deeper into darkness and rage is a glorious treat!
5. Star Wars Rebels (2014-2018)
Rebels was originally written as a kids show and was a bit rocky at first launch, but once the Ghost Crew had the chance to be fleshed out, Rebels would end up giving way to some of the galaxy’s best characters. The show takes place during the peak of the Empire’s totalitarian rule, so each storyline revolves around the small victories and battles that somehow still feel big. The relationship between Ezra and his mentor Kanan remained the heart of the show but the return of fan favourite characters like Darth Maul and Ahsoka contribute to some of the finest scenes in the series. Although it took some time, Rebels ended up being one of the most compelling Star Wars stories.
4. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
The first standalone movie released under the Disney banner, Rogue One is one of the first films that really puts the WAR in Star Wars. The stakes feel incredibly high as it gives a glimpse at the real cost of the conflict between the Empire and the Rebels and the sacrifices that have to be made to move a small step towards overcoming the totalitarian rulers of the galaxy. What the movie does phenomenally well is make you instantly fall in love with the characters from Jyn Erso to Cassian Andor, none of them are perfect, but many are willing to compromise their own morality for the greater good. It’s a brilliantly captivating but equally devastating installment in the franchise.
3. Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008-2020)
Just like Rebels, it took a bit of time for The Clone Wars to hit the ground running. However, once this series was able to escape the shadow of the mediocre film that kicked it off, it became the most enthralling experience any Star Wars fan could ask for. Over the course of seven seasons, The Clone Wars explored the scope and complexity of different planets across the galaxy and the impact the war has had on them. The show somehow balanced hundreds of characters, giving each one time to breathe and grow and ensured that each event felt important. Without a doubt, it’s definitely the high point of the Prequel Trilogy and Star Wars’ greatest animated series.
2. Ahsoka (2023-)
“Ahsoka” is everything a Star Wars series should be. Starring fan favourite characters including Ahsoka, Sabine Wren, Hera Syndulla, Admiral Thrawn and Ezra Bridger, every moment continues to develop the characters in new and interesting ways. The storylines are never sacrificed for action, and are always character driven. Yet, the pacing isn’t ever comprised, and has you on the edge of your seat with every episode. It does what some Star Wars films have failed to do feature strong female leads whose motivation isn’t comprised by romance. Instead the focus is on the fractured Padawan and Master relationship and the journey to rebuild. Arguably, it’s a series made more for diehard fans than casual fans, but it’s a series that needs to continue in some form because it’s just so perfect.
1. The Mandalorian (2019-)
A shining example of everything the Star Wars universe still has to offer, “The Mandalorian” has been met with universal acclaim, even earning two Emmy Nominations for Best Drama Series. That’s because it isn’t bogged down by previous Star Wars plots, and instead is able to tell a character driven story filled with bounty hunters, smugglers, criminals, and of course, the most adorable being to ever exist; Grogu! It flawlessly integrates standalone episodes with long-term storytelling, and even with the integration of fan favourite characters like Ahsoka and Bo Katan, the series never forgets what matters most to the series: the heart and growth of Din Djarin.
What’s your favourite Star Wars spinoff? Let us know in the comments below or on one of our social media channels. And make sure to follow Frozen Mouse Fever for all your Disney needs!
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