Last Wednesday, along with the 8th episode of Andor, Disney also released a series of animated shorts called Tales of the Jedi. There are six in total, the longest episode is about 18 minutes. They cover specific significant moments in the lives of Count Dooku and Ahsoka Tano. I am going to cover some of my thoughts on Tales of the Jedi but in doing so, there will be spoilers.
First, before the spoiler warning, I want to say that I did enjoy these shorts. I didn’t watch them immediately, but I now see why everyone enjoys them so much. I hope they make more but perhaps about other Jedi because it’s cool to get different perspectives on these characters. A Leia and Rey series of shorts would be amazing!
Spoilers Ahead!!!
The Light and the Dark
The dichotomy of these two stories is what I love about the shows. One story about one Jedi who becomes one of the best and one Jedi who falls. This might be the one obstacle to creating more episodes like this (if Disney were to adhere to the same theme).
I am going to start with Dooku, which seems to be the popular favorite. The book Dooku: Jedi Lost gives you a bit of his backstory. There was a part of me that was expecting to see bits from this book, but these episodes take place long after that.
I love the gaps these three episodes fill. For example, we now know that it was Dooku who deleted the Kamino entries from the Jedi Archives. I don’t think that was explained in Attack of the Clones. It’s also interesting to learn that Dooku’s fall from the Jedi Order essentially happens during The Phantom Menace. My favorite of the Dooku episodes, while also the darkest, is probably “The Sith Lord”. We learn the unfortunate and heartbreaking fate of Yaddle who was on Dooku’s side.
Also, for what it’s worth, I like that Yaddle doesn’t speak like Yoda. It keeps Yoda unique. I attribute it to a difference in location, much like the UK. You can drive 30 miles in about any direction and encounter a different dialect in the UK.
Ahsoka and Rebels Easter Egg
The Ahsoka episodes are my favorite of the six. Perhaps that makes me an Ahsoka “stan” but I’m OK with that. Anyway, her episodes just made me love her more. Also, for what it’s worth, I do NOT think the “Resolve” episode “rewrote” any part of E.K. Johnston’s book. Just because two stories are similar doesn’t make them the same story. Until otherwise stated, by Lucasfilm, they are two separate events and both remain canon.
One other thing I want to point out that nobody really seems to be talking about. Did anyone else notice the Rebels Easter Egg in the “Practice Makes Perfect” episode? At the very beginning, when Ahsoka is training with the remotes, there are a couple of Jedi watching her from the “bleachers”. It is Depa Billaba and her padawan Caleb Dume, aka Kanan Jarrus! This is one of the first things I noticed while watching this episode.
If you don’t believe me, go back and watch the first episode of Season One of The Bad Batch.
If you haven’t checked out Tales of the Jedi, I highly recommend them. If you have seen them then what are your thoughts on Tales of the Jedi?
