‘Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi’ offers fresh look at classic stories
Back before Disney acquired the “Star Wars” universe, “Tales of the Jedi” was a comic book series that followed a group of Jedi Knights traveling the galaxy many thousands of years before the original movie trilogy took place.
It was extremely well received, and many fans held out hope that Disney may dip back into this rich (but now officially non-canon) pool of storytelling at some point in the ever-expanding “Star
Wars” TV universe.
Well, they got their wish – but not in the way some may have hoped. Rather than telling tales of lightsabers and Sith Lords from 5,000 years before Luke Skywalker was born, “Tales of the Jedi” instead sees series creator Dave Filoni expand upon unexplored moments from George Lucas’ prequel trilogy, and Filoni’s own “The Clone Wars” show.
The six-part miniseries follows the fall of Count Dooku to the dark side of the Force and explores elements from the life of Jedi Knight Ahsoka Tano.
The animated style of the show is the same as “The Clone Wars” and sees many of the voice cast returning. The short, sharp stories are visually spectacular and surprisingly emotional in equal measure, and there’s a hefty dose of Hollywood gravitas thanks to cameo performances from Liam Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn and Ian McDiarmid as Darth Sidious.
Filoni’s real masterstroke here, though, is brevity. He keeps each episode focused and poignant, never allowing himself or his fellow writers and directors to outstay their welcome.*
The result is a series of snapshots into the familiar “Star Wars” universe, with glimpses into stories we already know, and revelations regarding events we have only heard reference to.
Seeing the final steps of Dooku’s disillusionment and fall and learning more of Tano’s early days at the Jedi temple could so easily have felt overwrought – like Disney was squeezing more content out of tired stories.
But instead, these six episodes feel fresh, vital, and vivid. Even if it may not have been what they had initially hoped for, “Star Wars” fans will be clamoring for more.