Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi
Premiering October 26, 2022, exclusively on Disney+, “Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi” is an anthology of six all-new animated shorts produced by Lucasfilm Animation and created by Dave Filoni (“Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” “Star Wars Rebels”). Based on Star Wars and characters created by George Lucas, the series is set during the prequel era and spotlights important moments in the lives of fan-favorite characters Ahsoka Tano and Jedi-turned-Sith Lord Count Dooku as they embark on respective paths toward heroism and villainy. “Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi” features the voices of Ashley Eckstein as Ahsoka Tano; Corey Burton as Count Dooku; Janina Gavankar as Ahsoka’s mother, Pav-ti; Micheal Richardson as young Qui-Gon Jinn; TC Carson as Mace Windu; Ian McDiarmid as Darth Sidious; Liam Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn; Phil Lamarr as Bail Organa; Clancy Brown as Inquisitor; Matt Lanter as Anakin Skywalker; and James Arnold Taylor as Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Dave Filoni is the creator, supervising director, executive producer, and writer of five of the six shorts: “Life and Death”; “Justice”; “The Sith Lord”; “Practice Makes Perfect”; and “Coda.” Charles Murray and Élan Murray are the writers of “Choices.” Nathaniel Villanueva directs “Life and Death”; Charles Murray directs “Choices”; Saul Ruiz directs “Justice”; “The Sith Lord”; “Practice Makes Perfect”; and “Coda.” In addition to Filoni, Athena Yvette Portillo and Carrie Beck are executive producers; Alex Spotswood and Josh Rimes are producer
Release Date: 26th October 2022
Creator: Dave Filoni
Writers: Dave Filoni, Charles Murray, Élan Murray
Directors: Charles Murray, Nathaniel Villanueva, Saul Ruiz
Executive Producers: Carrie Beck, Dave Filoni, Athena Yvette Portillo
Cast: Ashley Eckstein, Corey Burton, Janina Gavankar, Micheal Richardson, Bryce Dallas Howard, TC Carson, Ian McDiarmid, Liam Neeson, Phil Lamarr, Clancy Brown, Matt Lanter, James Arnold Taylor
Composer: Kevin Kiner
Life and Death
In this episode, Ahsoka is born to her mother, Pav-ti, voiced by Janina Gavankar (Iden Versio from Battlefront 2), and her father, Nak-il. Gantika is an elder medicine woman who lives in the same village and blesses Ahsoka as Pav-ti takes Ahsoka out for her first hunt. The first impression was this was a dark episode that shows an animal getting shot, and Pav-ti teaches Ahsoka not to run from death as they watch the animal die. Appreciating an animal sacrificing itself for the hunt is a very Native American custom. Giving thanks for the land and the animals that give back and provide for your tribe ensures a bounty will be fruitful every year.
Meanwhile, a large sabertooth cat sneaks up on Pav-ti and kidnaps Ahsoka, only for Ahsoka to connect to it via the Force. The cat eventually brings Ahsoka back home, and Gatinka proclaims Ahsoka a Jedi. Force sensitive, yes, Jedi? Not yet.
Justice
Just a wild guess that Qui-Gon is about 20 years old; he and Jedi Master Dooku arrive on a planet to find and return Senator Dagonet’s son. The kidnappers live in squaller while the senator is a wealthy man who never sees anything outside the city or Coruscant. Dooku doesn’t fault the kidnappers nor Qui-Gon, but their way of resolving the situation differs significantly. Dagonet arrives dressed in WWI-type fatigues. During the shootout, Dooku chokes Dagonet, losing himself in the moment. Seeking only to eliminate the problem, Qui-Gon calms Dooku down. Qui-Gon says he was only living in the moment, to which Dooku says, “You’re a much wiser man than I.” Something Qui-Gon repeats to Obi-Wan two decades later.
Choices
Mace Windu and Dooku travel to Raxus Secundus to learn why Master Katri was killed. At this point, neither are members of the Jedi High Council. Raxus Secundus might sound familiar to fans of The Clone Wars as the home planet of Meena and Lux Bonteri. Again, Dooku lost himself and was told to stand down twice by Windu before he listened. Dooku is the type who will do anything for the truth, like Anakin, regardless of their Jedi rank. There is a theme of accusing the Jedi of being loyal to the senate (Justice), that the Jedi align with the rich and powerful. This hits Dooku hard as he is part of the rich and powerful. Windu replaces Katri on the Council, which annoys Dooku.
The Sith Lord
Quite possibly the best episode yet, and one that answers some long-standing questions about how Kamino got erased from the Jedi library. Dooku deleted Kamino using Sifo Dyas’ security code. Dooku is obviously disenfranchised with the Jedi and has now joined Sidious. The lighting is beautiful in this episode, and the music by Kevin Kiner is some of the best he’s ever done for Star Wars. Ian McDiarmid returned as the voice of Palpatine. It’s fascinating to know Yaddle (voiced by Bryce Dallas Howard) learned of Dooku and Sidious but did not live to tell anyone. I hope someone was able to retrieve her body. These events all took place concurrent with The Phantom Menace. Dooku learns of Sidoius’ apprentice Maul and of Qui-Gon’s death. Despite not being a member of the Council, Dooku is still welcomed back as one of their own. It’s also interesting to see how Dooku doesn’t always agree with Palpatine and even argues with him about his tactics.
Practice Makes Perfect
Ahsoka, now Anakin’s apprentice, learns that fighting off battle droids isn’t the same as defending herself against unpredictable clones. Her training against Rex’s men serves her well much later when Order 66 causes the clones to try to kill her.
Resolve
Now, after Revenge of the Sith, Ahsoka, going by the name Ashla is hiding out in a farming community. This episode has caused a stir on the socials for contradicting the 2016 novel Ahsoka. This isn’t the first time this book has been contradicted. The farming community in Resolve and Raada in the Ahsoka novel can be two different events, but how Ahsoka reunites with Bail is tricky. In the book, Ahsoka doesn’t reunite with Bail until a year after the Empire forms. In Resolve, it’s right after Revenge of the Sith. I suppose both could’ve happened. The Inquisitor in Resolve went nameless while he was identified as the Sixth Brother in the novel.
- Audible Audiobook
- Lydia Kang (Author) - Marc Thompson (Narrator)
- English (Publication Language)
- 04/04/2023 (Publication Date) - Random House Audio (Publisher)