With great characters, fantastic twists, and powerful story-telling, Star Wars: Resistance is some of the best storytelling in Disney-era Star Wars.
Despite the poor reviews and low viewing figures, Star Wars: Resistance is a fantastic tale of found-family and hope. What’s more, it introduces us to a diverse, lovable group of characters that cannot help but earn a place in our hearts. Here’s why you should give it a chance.
It Has Fantastic Character Arcs
From Kaz’s development from a naïve pilot to a hero of the Resistance to Synara’s struggles with her place among the pirates, Star Wars: Resistance offers us a multitude of character arcs that will grip you throughout the show’s two seasons.
The development of Kaz, our protagonist, is especially heartwarming to see. He may seem excessively clumsy at first, but we see him learn and adopt new skills throughout the course of the show and even by the end of season one he has become a whole new, heroic person.
But the best arc is without a doubt that of Tam Ryvora. Without spoiling anything, we see her make a shocking decision at the end of season one, which wonderfully shakes up the format of the show and allows us a unique glimpse into life on the ‘other side’ in season two.
Tam’s story is one of naivety, manipulation, and the struggle to do the right thing, reminding us that whilst it may be a show directed towards a younger audience, it is still capable of providing some of the best Star Wars storytelling in the new era.
It’s a Heartwarming Tale of Found Family
Ever since Luke Skywalker found his people when he joined the Rebellion back in 1977, Star Wars has always been about family and finding one’s place in the galaxy, and Resistance does not fail to deliver on this count. At the start of the show, we are presented with a disparate group of characters onboard The Colossus and, slowly but surely, we see them develop and come together as a family, with everyone finding their place within it.
And what a family it is! From the lovable core group of Team Fireball and the unique flying Aces to Aunt Z, who never fails to look after the gang, and Flix and Orka, the first LGBTQ+ couple on-screen in the Star Wars universe (finally!). There’s a whole host of lovable characters that really do make this one of the most positive families in the galaxy.
This idea of family is enhanced in season two when the positivity of The Colossus is contrasted with the lifeless rigidity of life in the First Order, making it clear to us just what is needed for a community to flourish.
More from Star Wars Resistance
- Ahsoka: Is Senator Hamato Xiono working for the First Order?
- Ahsoka surprises with a Star Wars Resistance character
- The Bad Batch deserves better than the Star Wars: Resistance treatment
- Not all Star Wars should be like Andor
- Looking back at 10 years of Star Wars: The animated series
It’s The Perfect Addition to the Sequel Trilogy
The sequels are great, but because so much was going on, we rarely spend time with the different members of General Organa’s Resistance. This show fixes that.
Not only do we get to see a story about the formation of a Resistance cell – with all the espionage and heroics that this entails – but we learn about who makes up its ranks. We see people from all walks of life and from many different planets coming together to fend off a greater threat. We see ordinary, everyday people – not Jedi or Sith – with extraordinary tales to tell and, through this, learn just what it is that these people are fighting for.
These ideas perfectly complement the story of the sequel trilogy by enhancing those themes of togetherness that the movies are so full of.
And this is made all the clearer with Team Fireball’s participation in the Battle of Exegol, as confirmed by Rae Carson’s The Rise of Skywalker: Expanded Edition. It confirms the show as part of the greater galaxy and cements it as a worthy addition to the sequel trilogy canon, whilst also standing alone as a great show.
There’s so much more I could gush over – from the great new villains (Baron Vonreg is the most extra TIE pilot out there), to the enchanting monsters (Bibo!) and the beautiful design – but I’ll leave it at this…
Everything about Star Wars: Resistance is positive. Even in the darkest moments, the show lets us know that hope is always just around the corner. And isn’t that just the kind of message that we all need right now?
Star Wars: Resistance has started streaming now on Disney+.