Most people think ofStar Warsas a blockbuster film franchise, but it’s also flourished in TV shows. The firstStar WarsTV showswere released back in the 1980s, and they haven’t aged well; but we’ve recently been living through something of a golden age in both live-action and animation.
In compiling a top 20, we’ve tended to look less at the spectacle - although there’s plenty of that - and more at the character arcs and wonderful moments of depth. We’ve also focused on canon, which does meanStar Wars: Visionsis exempted. With that said, here’sthe 20 best episodes ofStar WarsTV.
20The Acolyte Season 1, Episode 5 “Night”
The Acolytewas deeply controversial, but episode 5 - simply called “Night” - is undoubtedly the show’s strongest. In this episode, audiences are properly introduced to The Stranger (played by Manny Jacinto) and his capabilities in battle. Not only does he single-handedly defeat a group of Jedi, but he also shows offsome of the best lightsaber work in recent memory.
The episode is action-packed and filled with devastating losses that help bring audiences further into the story. Despite so few survivors from the Jedi massacre, the dialogue and acting are some of the best in the entire series. Additionally, we also get to see a rare metal called cortosis in canon for the first time, making Legends lovers happy.
19Skeleton Crew Season 1, Episode 6 “Zero Friends Again”
Some of the Best Acting From Star Wars’ Youngest Cast
Star Wars: Skeleton Crewwas fun from start to finish and brought the childish joy of discovering a galaxy far, far away back toStar Wars. With a cast full of children,Skeleton Crewwould clearly take on a different tone than otherStar Warsshows, but the biggest emotional gut punch came in episode 6, “Zero Friends Again.”
This episode saw KB struggle with her physical limitations and admitting when she needs help. It’s full of great performances, particularly from Kyrianna Kratter as KB. It all came together inone of the best feel-good episodes ofStar Warsever, with a message on the importance of friendship and community.
18Star Wars Rebels Season 4, Episode 15 “Family Reunion – and Farewell”
The Rebels Finale Left a Lot of Loose Threads
TheStar Wars Rebelsseries finalewas the perfect wrap-up to the show’s four-year run. Not only did it bring all the main and supporting casts together for one final battle, but it also solidified thatRebelswas a family story more than anything else.
Filled with a great battle with Grand Admiral Thrawn, and a thrilling mystery about what happened to Ezra Bridger after he sacrificed himself, there’s a lot to love in this story. The episode oddly worked as a quasi-backdoor pilot forAhsoka, where the final scene from the epilogue would be recreated in live-action.
17Star Wars Rebels Season 2, Episode 17 “The Honorable Ones”
Rebels’ Bottle Episode Set Up One Of The Best Character Arcs
Rebels’ “The Honorable Ones” was an unexpected delight givenit focused on two characters who not only hated each other, but also hadn’t really gotten their time to shine. By sticking Zeb Orrelios and ISB Agent Alexsandr Kallus together on an ice moon, it allowed audiences to get to know both of them in a way we hadn’t anticipated.
The episode showed a deeper level of characterization for Kallus and allowed audiences to see he was more than an evil Imperial drone. It set up Kallus’s arc throughout the rest ofRebels, a journey that would take him from Imperial, to Rebel spy, to someone who was a trusted ally. Kallus' arc begins here, in a fantastic character piece.
16Andor Season 2, Episode 12 “Jedha, Kyber, Erso”
Andor’s Finale Left Audiences Incredibly Satisfied
Andorwill likely go down as the bestStar WarsTV show of all time, and rightly so. The origin for Diego Luna’s Cassian Andor leads directly into the events ofRogue One: A Star Wars Story, but also leaves audiences with questions about the fate of some of our favorite heroes.
Andorseason 2’s endingfeatures strong performances from the entire cast, but especially Elizabeth Dulau as Kleya Marki. The finale episode “Jedha, Kyber, Erso” not only brings the story full circle and leads right intoRogue One, but also makes a point to spend time with all the characters and give them a satisfying ending.
15Obi-Wan Kenobi, Season 1, Episode 6 “Part VI”
Features the Epic Duel Between Kenobi and Darth Vader
Thefinale ofObi-Wan Kenobifeatured a rematch between the Jedi Master and his former apprentice. The duel was set up from before the show even aired, and though the lightsaber duel itself was impressive,the performances of both Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen are what make this stand out.
Obi-Wan Kenobitold a story that a lot of people didn’t think we needed until we got it, but it informed so much about different characters that we see in laterStar Warstitles likeA New Hope. While there were some problems when it came to the overall story ofObi-Wan Kenobi, the finale episode was one of the best in the franchise.
14Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 7, Episode 12 “Victory and Death”
The Clone Wars’ Epic Conclusion
The final arc ofStar Wars: The Clone Warsis one of the best and most heartbreaking in the entire franchise, and the finale episode “Victory and Death” is no exception. This sees a heartbroken Captain Rex fight alongside Ahsoka Tano to escape other clones that are being controlled by their inhibitor chips.
Ahsoka and Rex survive, but it is the cost that makes this story so powerful. The clones who died in this episode are known and loved by viewers, and their fates are heartbreaking - as Ahsoka Tano herself reflects in a touching memorial.
13Andor Season 1, Episode 6 “The Eye”
One of the Most Visually Stunning Episodes in Star Wars
Andorseason 1’s second arc focused on a raid on the planet Aldhani, and it all culminated in a stunning escape from an Imperial facility. Though lives were lost, the Rebel escape would have major fallout for the remainder of the series.
One of the best aspects of the episode is when the Rebels are attempting to flee Aldhani during the natural phenomenon known as the Eye. The escape is action-packed, tense, and visually stunning.Star Warshas seldom looked so beautiful, and this seemed to be a hint that even better was to come.
12Tales of the Jedi Season 1, Episode 5 “Practice Makes Perfect”
Creates The Perfect Parallel
Star Wars' “Tales” anthology shows are animated shorts that center on specific characters, andTales of the Jediis the best so far. Focusing on Ahsoka Tano and Count Dooku, these six shorts filled in character and plot holes from otherStar Warstitles.
Episode 6, “Practice Makes Perfect,” focuses on Anakin Skywalker’s training of Ahsoka Tano. Through multiple instances, we see Anakin engaging in extra training with Ahsoka so that she’s more well-equipped than any other Jedi. The final moments of the short connect toThe Clone Warsfinale, where Ahsoka and Rex face off against a company of clone troopers seeking to kill them.
11Ahsoka Season 1, Episode 5 “Shadow Warrior”
Features The Return of the World Between Worlds
WhileAhsokaseason 1 had some missteps, many of the show’s best moments came in season 1, episode 5, “Shadow Warrior,” which showed Ahsoka Tano return to the mystic plane called theWorld Between Worlds. In the episode, Ahsoka is greeted by her former master, Anakin Skywalker, and is told he’s there to finish her training.
Together, Rosario Dawson’s Ahsoka and Christensen’s Anakin revisit key moments during the Clone Wars so Ahsoka can learn her final lesson from Anakin — choosing to live. The episode brought the relationship between Ahsoka and Anakin to live-action for the first time. Christensen’s return as Anakin Skywalker made the episode one of the best we’ve ever seen fromStar Wars.
