I just finished watching the finale of The Mandalorian, and to say that I’m peeved is an understatement. The Mandalorian was a show that felt like it took itself seriously for the first two seasons. There was character development and fascinating storytelling, and the finales left you reeling in some capacity.
I knew this season’s finale was going to have troubles when I learned that it was going to be a relatively short runtime for a season finale, clocking in at forty-one minutes. With credits and the recap, that runtime boils closer to something you’d see from a Clone Wars episode. And sure enough, the finale feels as if it’s moving a million miles an hour to conclude a story that ultimately was as lackluster as they come.
Okay, we’re halfway through the third season, and this is my first review so far. Why? Well, if I’m being honest, which I always am, this season just hasn’t impressed me that much so far.
We haven’t had a season of The Mandalorian since 2020, and for such a long wait, it’s far more lackluster than I expected. The first episode had me smiling, but ultimately when I returned from the episode, I was baffled by the breakneck pacing of the episode’s several plots. The second episode was much more enjoyable, but I still found it to often be repetitive and sometimes poorly written. Such as Bo-Katan reminiscing about Mandalore at times when it was clear that Mando was in trouble. I found myself literally urging her from my room to move faster to save Din Djarin.
It’s been a very long time since I ranked anything in this franchise. In fact, it hasn’t been since The Rise of Skywalker that I did this which is a bit shocking. Now that Obi-Wan Kenobi is finished though I figured it’s finally time to get back to ranking installments in this franchise. Enjoy!
19. Star Wars: Resistance
This cartoon had some interesting ideas and could’ve been really good. Instead, it felt like it was the first animated series to be catered to an audience under eight-years-old. Hence its boring story and forgettable characters.
18. The Clone Wars Movie
This movie actually isn’t that bad but it has some musical choices that are so atrocious I had to place it this low on the list.
17. The Book of Boba Fett
When I learned Boba Fett was getting his own spin-off I couldn’t be more excited…and then I watched the show. Week after week the series departed further and further from the character I knew and loved. Boba Fett’s cold ruthlessness and iconic awesomeness was sacriced to turn him into a not-as-cool caricature of Mando.
The series treated the title character so poorly that he was sidelined for two of the episodes in favor of Mando. And yes, those were the best episodes.
Plus, the Starburst-colored space Vespas and that gang of half-cyborg youngsters were the absolute WORST. And why was the show called The Book of Boba Fett again?
16. The Bad Batch
I liked some of the episodes in this show and the overall story is pretty intriguing. It’s just a little annoying and a tad bit boring on more circumstances than I would’ve liked.
15. Solo: A Star Wars Story
Ron Howard was the director, Woody Harrelson was Han Solo’s cynic mentor, it seemed like a recipe for success right? Unfortunately, the film is totally unnecessary, Alden Ehrenreich wasn’t a very likable Han Solo, and the story is ultimately quite boring. The best thing about the movie is Emilia Clarke’s Qi’ra and unfortunately she hasn’t been given a Disney+ series yet.
14. The Attack of the Clones
I like this movie and I don’t like this movie.
13. The Rise of Skywalker
This movie is filled with near-irredeemable flaws…and yet I watch it more than the other Sequel Trilogy movies these days. Hmm…
12. Return of the Jedi
This movie has some powerful/iconic moments but when I think about the other installments on this list I can’t place this any higher than #12.
11. The Phantom Menace
Darth Maul and Qui-Gon Jinn are the best things about this movie…and the creation of the Duel of the Fates piece composed brilliantly by John Williams.
10. A New Hope
This movie is a classic for a reason. The music is chill-inducing, the story is brilliantly simple, and the characters are unforgettable. But, compared to the other movies and shows on this list it’s definitely a bit lackuster.
9. The Last Jedi
Where this movie excels is the storyline with Rey, Kylo Ren, and Luke Skywalker. Unfortunately, Rian Johnson didn’t provide nearly enough dedication to Finn, Leia, and Poe’s story resulting in a film that is both powerful and boring as heck. Hence its spot on this list.
8. The Mandalorian
This show singlehandedly saved Star Wars. With that being said, this show would be higher on the list if it was easier to rewatch but it just isn’t. I love the characters, I love the story, and I love the many guest stars the second season provided but I cannot get myself to binge watch this show. And that’s kind of unfortunate.
7. The Force Awakens
Despite being a near-carbon copy of A New Hope this movie is still incredibly magical. Rey and Finn’s friendship was beautiful to witness and Kylo Ren was at his best. Plus, it brought back Harrison Ford in a sizable role as Han Solo which was perfect. It’s too bad the Sequel Trilogy could never top this film.
6. The Clone Wars
This cartoon is incredible. Spanning seven seasons and twelve years, the series let us dive deeper into Anakin and Obi-Wan’s stories while giving us one of the greatest characters in this franchise, Ahsoka Tano. And its final four episodes, I can definitively say, are some of the best in television.
5. Obi-Wan Kenobi
Even though there are some who don’t like this show I think it is undoubtedly one of the best things Disney has done. It fits like a glove after Revenge of the Sith, it’s well-written, and it’s actually kind of perfect. I unabashedly love this show.
4. The Empire Strikes Back
There’s no doubt that this movie is one of the best of all time. It’s a timeless sequel with one of the most iconic moments in cinematic history and it can easily be considered the best Star Wars movie ever made. With all that being said, the next installments on this list are becoming more and more special as this story expands.
3. Revenge of the Sith
As I grew up this was always my favorite film of the prequels. Now, with the end of The Clone Wars and its connections to other installments, Revenge of the Sith has become an incredibly powerful chapter in the Skywalker Saga.
2. Star Wars: Rebels
I have been invested in animated characters but none quite like the Ghost Crew. Their story over the course of four years/four seasons is beautiful, heartwarming, riveting, heartbreaking, and powerful. I’m so excited to see Sabine and Hera’s stories continue in Ahsoka next year.
And 1. Rogue One
So far, this movie still hasn’t been topped because it, in a word, is extraordinary. It’s a gritty, intense two hours of pure Star Wars storytelling and I hope Andor is just as compelling because if it is… Well, I will be very pleased.
So there’s my long overdue updated ranking. I thank you for reading and I hope you have a wonderful day. May the Force be with you.
It’s been a while since I’ve felt like this about Star Wars. You know that feeling. That warm, endlessly joyful feeling in your very soul that only Star Wars can give you. Well, I got that feeling yesterday when June’s issue of Vanity Fair was released online, bringing with it a bunch of jaw-dropping Star Wars goodness.
I’m dead.
Annie Leibovitz is at again with another epic showcasing of Star Wars at its finest. But this time, I know for a fact the long wait will live up to the hype.
Well, The Book of Boba Fett is over. I can honestly say I’m relieved. The show had its moments of brilliance (mainly when it was The Mandalorian 2.5) but ultimately, as a whole, the show was a bit ridiculous. There was too much going on, too many flashbacks, and not enough awesome Boba-ness. (Yes, they Disney-fied Boba Fett.)
Forget that though. Let’s talk about Luke Skywalker and his track record of being a TERRIBLE Jedi Master.
In The Last Jedi we see Luke as this grumpy, hopeless old man who wants nothing to do with the Jedi. Even when his sister begs for his help he goes about his business on Ahch-To with a scowl on his face, refusing to teach Rey the ways of the Jedi.
When he finally does decide to teach her the ways of the Force it’s with only one goal in mind; to show her why the Jedi are so awful. He has a point which only reaches a catalyst after his nephew Ben falls to the dark and destroys his Jedi Academy. He ends up infuriating Rey so badly that she found herself willing to trust Kylo Ren more than the very man who once saved the galaxy from the Empire and Palpatine. Ouch.
His nephew Ben turned to the dark because apparently Luke was being a terrible mentor and Snoke was able to manipulate him. Snoke, a twisted being who seems like the last person you should trust seemed more trustworthy than Ben’s uncle, Luke Skywalker.
Despite the obvious fact that the last two episodes of The Mandalorian, I mean, The Book of Boba Fett (😏) have been phenomenal that doesn’t excuse the major failures of this show. Just look at the IMDb scores for the first four episodes.
Chapter 1: 7.4/10
Chapter 2: 8.3/10
Chapter 3: 6.4/10
Chapter 4: 7.6/10
These scores reveal a show that’s ultimately mediocre and that’s not bad…until one remembers that this is a show about Boba Fett, one of the most beloved characters in the franchise.
Annlyel Online 