Are the Star Wars TV projects better than the Star Wars movies?
Since Star Wars first hit theaters in 1977, there have been countless other forms of media published that allow us to continue experiencing the drama of a galaxy far far away. Two more movies followed what would become Episode IV: A New Hope, marking the original trilogy of Star Wars films.
Since the debut of the original trilogy, fans have been treated to two more trilogies, one being a prequel and the other appropriately being a sequel.
Along the way, there have been three stand-alone films (two live-action and one animated) within the Star Wars universe that have helped connect missing puzzle pieces and provide fans a glimpse into a galaxy that isn’t just lightsaber-wielding force users dueling over power, but a galaxy of regular people just trying to live amongst the chaos of war.
On top of the twelve feature-length films, there is also a very large collection of Star Wars episodic shows available on Disney Plus, with many more in the works.
With all of those options available for viewers to stream anytime they see fit, the question has come to mind of which format is the best at this point in time. Is the tradition of trilogies the best way for viewers to be told a story? Are stand-alone films the answer in the modern era of the universe? Is it possible that Star Wars stories are no longer best suited for the big screen, and now belong in the format of weekly episodes?
There may not be, and there probably isn’t, just one answer.
Star Wars Trilogies
First, let’s look at trilogies. Every die-hard Star Wars fan likely has a favorite trilogy of the three.
Regardless of which trilogy is “best,” for this analysis we must look into the overall idea of a trilogy and determine if it still has a place in this cinematic universe.
I must admit that I love the idea of a trilogy. They allow creators to set out to make something truly special. If the timing and content are right, a trilogy can be a generation-defining spectacle. Something that the original trilogy most certainly was.
However, when a trilogy is not done right, or the timing of it is misplaced, it can be seen as a failure.
When a trilogy, or even a single film of the trilogy, is seen as a failure by critics and/or fans, it can cast a dark shadow over the other films of the trilogy.
The most recent Star Wars example of this of course would be the sequels. The Force Awakens (2015) was released to a pretty good reception from critics and fans alike.
Two years later, The Last Jedi (2017) came out and was divisive to say the least with fans generally disliking it, and critics praising it.
Then came Rise of Skywalker (2019), and the reception was basically flipped from the previous film.
As many are aware, the prequel trilogy had its own share of scathing reviews and even genuine disdain from die-hard fans of the original trilogy. Though it is important to point out that even the original trilogy fell victim to its own fair share of harsh critiques, such as this one from the Washington Post.
What I am getting at here is that no Star Wars trilogy is perfect from beginning to end. Different directors, producers, writers and cinematographers end up putting their own personal touch on the films they work on. Is this a bad thing? Not necessarily, because it means each movie is going to be truly unique.
On the other hand, it can also be a recipe for disaster.
All in all, a Star Wars trilogy allows fans to follow a handful of characters on multiple high-stakes adventures throughout the galaxy. Characters get the opportunity to grow so much that who they were in movie one ends up being unrecognizable with who they become in movie three. Rey in the ST is a great example of this. Try turning on The Force Awakens immediately after Rise of Skywalker. Rey the scavenger is such a stark contrast from Rey Skywalker, but that is a great credit to the story and to the performance of Daisy Ridley.
Though I also can’t ignore the problem of only having three movies to tell the stories of a handful of characters. Some stories get ignored as time runs out. Finn, Rose and Captain Phasma are all characters in the sequel trilogies whose stories felt incomplete when the “Skywalker Saga” closed.
The beloved or infamous (depending on who you talk to) Jar Jar Binks fell victim to an incomplete story in the prequel trilogy. And perhaps no one is more hyped up in the original trilogy without much of a story at all than Boba Fett.
Star Wars was built on trilogies. It has not always been -and perhaps it never was- executed to perfection, but the rabid fanbase that continues to grow nearly 50 years after the debut of A New Hope shows that the trilogy format works. But is it the perfect way to present Star Wars?
The lack of any officially announced trilogies from LucasFilm during its look into future projects shows that Disney is asking itself that very question.
Star Wars Standalone Movies
Arguably the greatest single scene in Star Wars history comes from a stand-alone movie. You know the one.
Yes. That one.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) did its job to perfection. Bringing new characters -as well as some old favorites- along on a ride that would explain some more of the background of the original Star Wars film.
It accomplished what it set out to do with the perfect amount of drama, tension and fan service, and because of that it still holds high praise from fans and critics.
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) on the other hand receives a little more negative feedback.
Speculation as to why Solo is not regarded as highly as Rogue One continues to this day, and I must admit I wonder myself.
Solo is not a bad film. Does it do fan service to the extent of Rogue? No. But what it does do is tell an exciting backstory about Han Solo, not the Rebellion leader, but the scoundrel. It accomplishes its goal of telling a story about Han Solo, just like Rogue One accomplished its goal.
Of course the original intentions of Solo are well known, it was supposed to be the first in a trilogy of films. It is that original intention that ends up causing the biggest caveat of the stand-alone film format: leaving major plot points unresolved.
Much like how a planned trilogy can try to tell too many stories, when a movie that could possibly end up being a one-off is given a cliffhanger ending it can certainly fall flat to fans on rewatches. In Solo’s case, it is not because it is a bad film, but rather because the fans who love it dearly feel as though a major piece of the puzzle is lost.
We tend to linger more on what might have been, rather than what is. That makes stand-alone’s vulnerable.
However, Disney appears to feel as though they are worth the risk as they have two stand-alone films currently in the works in Rogue Squadron and an untitled movie by Taika Waititi.
Star Wars TV shows
Seasonal Star Wars television shows are nothing new with The Clone Wars (2008) and Rebels (2014) each being successful in expanding the galaxy and bringing in a new wave of young fans. There is also Resistance (2018), which was not as successful with fans. What is new is the live-action presentation of The Mandalorian.
Fans of beloved series are currently awaiting season three. Though it is not clear when it will premiere on Disney Plus.
The Mandalorian making it to a third season is not really surprising given the fan reception, along with the fact that the two animated shows also went for four and seven seasons respectively.
What is surprising is how dedicated Disney has become to the format of multi-season TV shows. Currently in its first season is The Bad Batch. Also set to debut within the next few years will be Andor, The Acolyte, Visions, The Book of Boba Fett and Rangers of the New Republic.
What makes the format so desirable to a business? Subscription dollars.
What makes the format so desirable to fans? The ability to world build in a way that singular films, and even trilogies, can not. Seasons one and two of The Mandalorian showed fans a galaxy reeling following the fall of the Empire. Multiple worlds, species, characters and themes are present as we follow Din Djarin and his foundling, Grogu, on an endless adventure.
The same advantages that exist in The Mandalorian are also present in the previous animated shows as well.
Though, the disadvantage of this format is quite obvious. There can sometimes be a sense of stagnation as some episodes may feel like “filler” to a general audience. Too much of that, and a show can begin to lose its casual viewers and, in the worst case, its devoted fans.
Thankfully, we have yet to see The Mandalorian enter a stage of what feels like pure filler, but the question of whether or not Disney will be able to replicate the success of its first live-action Star Wars show with so many in the works is at the top of my mind.
Star Wars limited series events
To go along with their deep lineup of upcoming multi-season shows, Disney also has a fair amount of “special event” or “limited” series on the schedule as well.
Unlike all the other formats that have been covered to this point, there is not a current example of a limited Star Wars series. Some could say that season seven of The Clone Wars could fit this classification due to the nature of its release, but at the end of the day it is still “season seven.”
The advantages of this format are similar to the multi-season shows. You get an opportunity to world build a little more properly than you do with a feature-length film.
The option of going for five, six or even more episodes is there. This is in contrast to a show like The Mandalorian, where we currently have two seasons of eight episodes.
Unlike with shows that run for multiple seasons, the odds of getting into “filler” territory are slim.
This format ultimately allows creators to tell a full story without having to omit major plot points for time like what is sometimes seen with films. On the other hand, it also keeps creators from being forced to insert too much into their story to fulfill a number of episodes.
The major drawback of a limited series is that fans could end up with a major appetite for more. While that is certainly not a bad thing, enough fan pressure can do a lot, and that could include causing a completed story to get an unneeded continuation.
Fans of this style should certainly feel pleased with the amount of it they will be getting with Ahsoka, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Lando all currently upcoming projects.
Do we need more Star Wars movies over TV shows?
With all of those options at their disposal, which one fits Star Wars best in 2021?
It is really hard to not just go with the easy “all Star Wars is good Star Wars” answer, because I do enjoy it all. But for the foreseeable future, there must be a format that works best.
I love trilogies, and I love the trilogies we have in the Star Wars universe.
Whether it is the original trilogy’s struggle of overcoming impossible odds to defeat an evil empire, the prequel trilogy’s story of political upheaval or the sequel trilogy’s struggle of dealing with one’s identity (or lack thereof), I love it all.
It is really hard for me to say that a trilogy is not the perfect way to present Star Wars, even in 2021. Regardless of their faults, they have told us incredible stories with likable characters in a deep universe.
The Skywalker Saga feels special. From beginning to end, it feels like the fate of the entire galaxy is always at risk.
Though, it may be time for Star Wars to give the trilogy format a break.
The Empire, The First Order and the Final Order all had weapons capable of destroying worlds. That makes for a dramatic climax, but Disney currently has a golden opportunity to build worlds rather than destroy them.
That is why the multi-season tv series format currently is the best way for Disney to expand upon the Star Wars universe.
The Mandalorian has given us a taste of this. It is not just a show about Din bringing Grogu to a Jedi. It is a story of a man dealing with the difficulty of living in a world where the religion he grew up on is alien to those he encounters. Plus the struggle he faces of breaking the rules of that religion, like showing his face to a child that has basically become a son to him.
Rebels is another great example of showcasing the stories of characters who aren’t necessarily going to save or destroy the galaxy, but the struggles they face feel very real.
Ezra being tempted by evil to find his family, the quest of Zeb finding his homeworld and Sabine dealing with being an outcast to her family are all relatable to fans.
Those episodic stories all have one thing in common: They would have been overlooked in a trilogy that deals with the fate of the entire galaxy.
Star Wars needs more of these immensely relatable stories, and hopefully, we will be treated to them with the deep lineup of current and upcoming shows.
How do you feel Star Wars media is best presented? Let us know in the comments. For more Star Wars, be sure to keep up with Dork Side of the Force.