It has been a marvelous year for Star Wars fans. Books explored new territory, comics took us to dark places, and the TV shows made us think and laugh in equal measure. Rather than fill in a blank for every standard award category, I thought it would be good to assign a special award for each project of 2024.
Here are the best Star Wars moments from 2024.
Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor: Amandla Stenberg
Say what you will about The Acolyte, one of the things that kept me watching so compulsively was the interplay between identical twins on extremely divergent paths. Mae and Osha were compelling characters for a number of reasons, and I was conflicted as to who I wanted to gain the upper hand. Their story broke my heart for sure.
Amandla Stenberg was at the center of this conflict, and I loved their beyond-the-scenes attitude towards the project before and after it played. They were the giddy young actress who played the Force theme for us on her violin, but she also showed a fierce side when confronting the biases that came out.
Between script and performer, there was an interplay of emotional commitment that had to be admired. There are many reasons for wanting to see the stories that would have followed Season 1’s shocking ending, and the credit for that goes to the promise Amandla’s characters showed throughout the series.
Best Original Score: Music by John Williams
The documentary Music by John Williams about the life and work of Star Wars' original composer was a must-see for any music lover. Whether you can discuss the differences between Indiana Jones and Harry Potter or just like the march from the medal ceremony or hearing the original version of "Binary Sunset," you could find something to appreciate.
The project's range of contributors and commentators was my favorite thing about the retrospective. I came away from watching Music by John Williams wanting to re-watch everything I'd ever heard by him.
Best Ensemble Cast: The Bad Batch Season 3
The Bad Batch about the galaxy post-Order 66 has always been complex in its premise and thought-provoking with its variety of characters. We all knew that things would get complicated as the show entered its final season, and a major factor in that was bound to be seeing how various stories either came to an end or had an uncertain ending.
The third season was full of things to enjoy, but it did something that I considered to be both brave and heart-lifting. It left the story with an open ending and the promise of things we haven't yet imagined. The plot was incredibly complex, but it also felt intimate in its scope because of the core characters involved. It brought to mind how we all wanted to see the Empire fall in the original trilogy but looked at it through the eyes of a handful of rebels.
Best Actor in a Guest Role: David Tennant as Professor Huyang in Young Jedi Adventures
I was delighted with the return of Young Jedi Adventures. This season brought child-like wonder to adventure tropes on a more mature level as Kai Brightstar, Lys Solay, and Nubs became the people new younglings looked to for guidance. It didn't mean that they always had things go smoothly. It also brought the return of fan-favorite Professor Huyang, voiced by the incredible David Tennant.
Nubs is my favorite of the kids, and he finds himself hindered by his own enthusiasm and inability to see the bigger picture in episode 4, "Nubs' Big Mistake." He brings a Poobian Jedi's lightsaber to Coruscant. It is there that Professor Huyang uses his considerable knowledge to fix the lightsaber. Eagle-eyed fans can see him using something like a sonic screwdriver to put things right, and he encourages Nubs along the way. Fans of Doctor Who can also appreciate the lore that this droid is rumored to have arrived in a blue box. Fun fact: At the time of writing, David Tennant is the only actor to have won an Emmy in acting for a Star Wars role.
Best Rising Stars: Wim, Neel, KB and Fern in Skeleton Crew
We haven't seen the last of the adventures in Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, but we get more intrigued by the stories of At Attin with every passing week. Some have called it "The Goonies in space" and that feels accurate both for its swashbuckling adventure and the way kids take adult responsibilities on themselves.
The writing and acting are wonderfully geared towards a certain age range, but it's not something others have a hard time relating to. Everyone has their favorite of the kids. I'm a KB fan all the way, but I can't help but cheer for Captain Fern, being both single-minded and aware of her shortcomings. I love how loving Neel is, whether with his siblings or his classmate Roona. KB is no leader, but she seems to be well-placed to be the brains of the operation. And we all want to know if Wim, the knight errant of the bunch, will be the hero of the adventure. We are here until the very end of whatever is going on with the new crew of the Onyx Cinder.
Best Adapted Screenplay: LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy
Last in this year's visual media honors is the miniseries that broke the franchise and hilariously tried to put it back together, LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy. We got Darth Jar Jar Binks, two brothers caught on either side of the war, and mercenary Ewoks. Jedi Bob steps up as the unlikely hero, and Luke Skywalker is a surfer dude. The galaxy is topsy-turvy in this very fun miniseries.
What I liked best about reimagining everything we know about Star Wars is that it didn't put things back together in the end. It was an interesting story-telling approach, and I hope there will be sequels that explore more of this rebuilt galaxy far, far away.
Here's to the stars of 2024 and may we have just as much to celebrate in 2025.