Every Star Wars TV Show Ranked From Worst To Best

For decades, when people thought of "Star Wars," they thought of the big screen. Indeed, George Lucas' titanic space fantasy franchise has changed the film industry in numerous ways, from revolutionizing special effects to launching genre films into the highest ranks of the box office. Of course, the franchise has never just been about the films. Toys, video games, novels, comic books, and all other manner of tie-in productions have always been part and parcel of the "Star Wars" story. But for years, theater experiences reigned supreme.

In the modern "Star Wars" era, however, that cinematic supremacy isn't quite so strong. Perhaps due to a combination of mixed reviews and diminishing box office returns, Disney has taken a step back from the series' big-screen installments and put more focus on "Star Wars" TV and streaming shows. This is a space the franchise has dabbled in for decades, but in just a few years, TV has become nearly as big of a venue for "Star Wars" as the silver screen.

From kiddie cartoons and anime anthologies to big-budget prestige series, "Star Wars" has done it all on the small screen. However, not every effort has borne equally satisfying fruit. Which serialized stories dazzle and which ones disappoint? We're here to answer that question by ranking each and every "Star Wars" TV series from worst to best.

In 1985, "Star Wars" dipped its blockbuster toes into TV with two animated series: "Star Wars: Ewoks" and "Star Wars: Droids." While these shows were developed by different creative teams, they were both animated by Canadian studio Nelvana, resulting in a similar look and tone. These similarities, combined with the shows' significant age and short runs, make it easy to clump them together at the bottom of this list.

It's not that "Droids" and "Ewoks" are aggressively bad. Rather, they simply come from a time when cartoons were more geared towards merchandising than actual storytelling. "Droids" sees R2-D2 and C-3PO get into various hijinks in the period between "Revenge of the Sith" and "A New Hope," with occasional cameos from other popular characters like Boba Fett. There's also an original villain named Kybo Ren, which is, at the very least, oddly amusing. "Ewoks ran for two seasons, outpacing the single season of "Droids," but there's still not much going on in it. In truth, the show has more in common with "FernGully: The Last Rainforest" than it does with anything "Star Wars."

Ultimately, "Ewoks" and "Droids" are exactly what you'd expect: Cheap-looking, ancillary shows meant to sustain toy sales in the wake of the original trilogy. But hey, at least that "Droids" theme song still slaps.

Let's talk about what "The Book of Boba Fett" could have been. Led by the immensely talented Temuera Morrison and Ming-Na Wen, this tale, which follows Fennec Shand and Boba Fett as they take over the "Star Wars" underworld, has all the makings of a gritty, stylish, and exciting story. Boba's arc, which sees him learn how to lead, is a basic but compelling one. Under the leadership of Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau, you'd think this would result in excellent TV.

But in fact, "The Book of Boba Fett" was met with lackluster critical reviews and widespread disappointment from fans. This is largely due to the screen time it wastes on dull, plodding subplots. Doing a classic Western story on Tatooine isn't necessarily a bad idea, but the series' proximity to "The Mandalorian" keeps it from feeling truly original. It's telling that an entire episode of "The Book of Boba Fett" — one of seven total — focuses exclusively on the continuing adventures of Din Djarin and Grogu. It's as if even the writers realized they were making an inferior show.

There's still fun to be had here. Cad Bane gets an enjoyable live-action debut, we see some back-to-back Mandalorian battle action, and Wen steals nearly every scene she's in. But as a show centered around one of the most beloved "Star Wars" characters of all time, "The Book of Boba Fett" falls woefully short of its potential.

"Star Wars Resistance" follows Kaz Xiono (Christopher Sean), a young ace pilot recruited by the titular Resistance in the days leading up to "The Force Awakens." Oscar Isaac features here and there as the devil-may-care Poe Dameron, and, as in "Star Wars Rebels," a large cast of supporting characters help and hinder Kaz along the way.

By most metrics, "Star Wars Resistance" is a pretty solid show. It earned good reviews from critics throughout its run and earned nominations for outstanding children's program from the 2019 and 2020 Primetime Emmy Awards. And yet, it feels like it's missing something. The cel-shaded animation style makes the show stand out from "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" and "Star Wars Rebels," but it never reaches the visual heights of those predecessors. Moreover, the story is clearly meant for an especially young audience, with a generally jokey tone and simplistic approach to storytelling. This means it never really tries to achieve more than passable action and basic character arcs. Perhaps that's why the overall audience reception to "Star Wars Resistance" has been notably poorer than the critical consensus.

Making a good cartoon isn't easy, and "Star Wars Resistance" deserves credit for all it does well. But it doesn't offer much for older "Star Wars" fans, and it can't stand up to the franchise's best animated outings.

"Obi-Wan Kenobi" is a show that should be better than it actually is, but it's also a show that does a lot of things right. Ewan McGregor is once again excellent as the eponymous Jedi Master, who undergoes one of the most complex character arcs in the franchise. There's some great action — much of it starring Hayden Christensen's Darth Vader — and a compelling new character in Moses Ingram's Reva. "Obi-Wan Kenobi" paints a pretty grim picture of the galaxy under Imperial rule, and in its best moments, that picture is stunning.

But at its worst, "Obi-Wan Kenobi" feels bloated and repetitive. It's only six episodes long, yet a good portion of the show sees Obi-Wan hide from Stormtroopers and Imperial Inquisitors while trying to rescue the young Princess Leia (Vivien Lyra Blair) over and over again. There's a good deal of sloppy writing involved — how do people keep surviving these killing blows? — and the preexisting canon severely limits what can actually happen. If you're looking for a show that pushes the boundaries of what "Star Wars" can be, you may be disappointed. 

Perhaps, however, you're looking for prequel trilogy fan service and a handful of emotional lightsaber fights. If that's the case, then "Obi-Wan Kenobi" delivers the goods. With strong critical reviews and a solid fan reception, it's not too hard to recommend.

"Star Wars: The Bad Batch" is sort of a sequel to "Star Wars: The Clone Wars," but it also sort of isn't. While it picks up immediately after the previous series' end in the early days of Imperial rule, "Star Wars: The Bad Batch" doesn't jump around a huge cast of supporting characters. Rather, it focuses exclusively on the titular squad of clones, who, due to  genetic variance, remained autonomous during Order 66.

There's a lot to love about "Star Wars: The Bad Batch," from its stunning animation to its unique setting. Accordingly, it's received high praise. The show spends a lot of time effectively exploring how different systems of Imperial rule are set up and how the lives of regular galactic citizens change after the end of the Clone Wars. Vocal wizard Dee Bradley Baker does an impressive job differentiating between the many main characters he plays, while newcomer Omega (Michelle Ang) brings a fresh and fun energy to the story.

Unfortunately, "Star Wars: The Bad Batch" is also held back by a number of pacing issues. The series' episodic plotlines quickly start to feel repetitive, and because the main characters aren't terribly important in the grand scope of galactic history, few of their adventures hold much weight. It's a slower-paced show by design, which some fans love. But others may simply find it less interesting than "Star Wars Rebels" or "Star Wars: The Clone Wars."

Of all the live-action "Star Wars" series so far, "Ahsoka" may be the strangest — both in content and in its role within the larger franchise. Dave Filoni's first outing as a live-action showrunner is many things at once. It's a continuation of the story and characters from "Star Wars Rebels," a likely set-up for a Grand Admiral Thrawn movie, a fantasy adventure in the style of the old Expanded Universe, and a samurai-inspired story arc for Ahsoka Tano herself.

Unfortunately, these differing intentions split the focus of "Ahsoka," yielding a show that feels distracted, muddled, and oddly paced. The returning "Rebels" characters don't get enough set-up for new viewers to fully grasp their importance, but the jump to live-action also brings some odd changes to those characters that may put off longtime fans. While better than "Obi-Wan Kenobi," "Ahsoka" still suffers from the limitations of filming on the Volume, and the most basic dialogue scenes are frequently stilted by awkward pauses and baffling, stoic direction.

Even still, there's a lot to like about "Ahsoka." It embraces a sense of magic and adventure that's been missing in recent "Star Wars" stories, and there's tons of fun action, from lightsaber duels to tense starship battles. While lead protagonists Ahsoka (Rosario Dawson) and Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo) aren't always the most exciting to watch, other characters like Baylan Skoll (Ray Stevenson), Ezra Bridger (Eman Esfandi), Shin Hati (Ivanna Sakhno), and Morgan Elsbeth (Diana Lee Inosanto) are riveting to watch. Then, of course, there's Thrawn himself (Lars Mikkelsen), who's so immediately terrifying and captivating in the last few episodes that he makes the entire show worth it.

In the whole history of the "Star Wars" franchise, there's never been anything quite like "Star Wars: Visions," an animated anthology series produced by some of Japan's most acclaimed anime studios. While "Star Wars: Visions" isn't canon, it offers unique glimpses into what's possible within the universe George Lucas created. All manner of stories are told, set in all sorts of eras and on all kinds of planets. There are epic lightsaber duels and battles with the dark side, but there are also quieter, simpler, and even impressively comedic moments.

"Star Wars: Visions" received critical acclaim upon its release, though fan reaction was a bit more mixed. Due to the show's anthology structure, most viewers won't love every episode. But there's so much to enjoy about this project, it's hard not to appreciate it. From the stunning and diverse visual stylings to the wide range of stories told, it's a series that teases just how much Disney could do with the franchise if it were willing to step beyond preexisting canon. Watching "Star Wars: Visions" is an exercise in awe — which is, of course, the heart of the saga. The infinite possibilities of the "Star Wars" story are always waiting just beneath the surface. "Star Wars: Visions" helps us remember that.

"Star Wars Rebels" is not the best of the TV bunch, but it's far from the worst. Essentially, it's the baseline for all-around solid "Star Wars" TV shows, delivering a diverse blend of content fans of all ages find engaging.

Set just a few years before the events of "A New Hope," "Star Wars Rebels" follows the crew of the Ghost, a ship loyal to the burgeoning Rebel cause, as they battle various agents of the Empire. While the overall tone is geared towards younger viewers, there are still plenty of serious, long-term storylines to be found, with fan-favorite characters like Darth Maul, Ahsoka Tano, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Darth Vader, and Grand Admiral Thrawn all leaving their marks. "Star Wars Rebels" has its lows, but there are also plenty of incredibly highs – enough to earn the show great reviews and a number of prestigious awards and nominations.

It's also worth noting that "Star Wars Rebels" takes its visual cues from Ralph McQuarrie's original "Star Wars" concept art, as noted by CNET, which gives it a cool aesthetic twist. The series is occasionally too cartoonish for its own good, and the stakes rarely feel especially high, but at the end of the day, almost every "Star Wars" fan will be able to find something to love within it.

"Tales of the Jedi" is a short and sweet, but that ultimately works to its benefit. Helmed by Dave Filoni and released in October of 2022, the six-part miniseries largely acts as an expansion pack for "Star Wars: The Clone Wars," sharing the same animation style and voice cast. However, "Tales of the Jedi" is a bit more experimental in its format, with episodes that average just around 15 minutes apiece.

Ahsoka Tano and Count Dooku are the main points of focus here, with each getting three of the show's six episodes. Ahsoka's arc follows her from infancy to a rigorous training protocol under Anakin Skywalker, and ultimately to the beginning of her involvement in the Rebel Alliance. Dooku's episodes show his close relationship with Qui-Gon Jinn, how his disillusionment with the Jedi grew over the decades, and the battle that solidifies his place on the dark side.

By keeping its stories brief, "Tales of the Jedi" makes the most of them. The animation is stunning, the writing is minimalist, and the little kernels of lore are a lot of fun for fans. Seeing more of Dooku's journey is particularly rewarding, as his episodes add a lot of depth and nuance to his overall character arc. While "Tales of the Jedi" might not quite measure up to the absolute best of "The Clone Wars," it's still one of the prettiest and most compelling "Star Wars" shows to date, as the reviews will tell you.

As the "Star Wars" prequel trilogy marched through theaters, animation legend Genndy Tartakovsky helmed one of the franchise's most lauded entries: "Star Wars: Clone Wars." This show technically ran for three seasons between the releases of "Attack of the Clones" and "Revenge of the Sith," but since each episode is only a few minutes long, there really isn't that much content to it. Even so, "Star Wars: Clone Wars" leaves a lasting impression as one of the most gorgeous and striking "Star Wars" animated series ever made.

Perhaps most impressively, "Star Wars: Clone Wars" establishes Anakin Skywalker as a true hero, and shows the potential the prequel era always held. That it accomplishes this and dreams up some of the sleekest designs in the franchise is especially jaw-dropping. The action is tight and always packed with Easter eggs for fans to unearth. The series also introduces a number of major "Star Wars" characters, including General Grievous and Asajj Ventress.

All this attention to detail earned the series multiple Emmy Awards and an Annie Award for best animated television production. Though "Star Wars: Clone Wars" quickly became overshadowed by the much longer "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" (which also rewrites much of the timeline), Tartakovsky's series remains a worthwhile watch for any fan of the franchise.

The "Star Wars" sequel trilogy ended up dividing the fan base, which probably isn't what Disney was hoping for. Fortunately, just one month before "The Rise of Skywalker" premiered in theaters, the company released its first Disney+ original "Star Wars" series. It's remained a high water mark for the franchise ever since.

"The Mandalorian" is a perfect storm of "Star Wars" greatness. It has gorgeous locations (produced with industry-changing technology) and engaging practical effects. It has cute aliens and the occasional Jedi. And of course, it has an effortlessly cool masked protagonist in Pedro Pascal's Din Djarin. The series effortlessly blends the Western origins of the franchise with modern flair. Moreover, by focusing on an almost entirely new cast of characters, it carves out a uniquely compelling niche for itself in the "Star Wars" story.

From a strictly technical perspective, "The Mandalorian" is a marvel. This has made it one of the most-awarded "Star Wars" shows ever made, earning Emmy wins for everything from the soundtrack to the stunts, as well as wins and nominations from the BAFTAs, SAG Awards, AFI Awards, and others. The series has received high critical praise across the board, as well as one of the most universally positive fan reactions the franchise has ever seen. Simply put, if you're a "Star Wars" fan, there's a good chance you'll love "The Mandalorian."

"Star Wars: The Clone Wars" is a joy to watch. Over the course of seven seasons, it tells a truly massive story, encompassing Jedi adventures, pirate heists, droid hijinks, and civil wars. Critics and fans alike adore it – and that's not even mentioning its dozens of award wins and nominations.

Set between "Attack of the Clones" and "Revenge of the Sith," this series starts out with a non-linear narrative that can be a bit tough to follow. One episode might join C-3PO and R2-D2 on a comedic adventure, while the next three might tell a serious tale about a planet under siege by the Separatists. As it moves through the seasons, however, the show becomes a bit more consistent. Major plotlines like the state of Mandalore, Darth Maul's return, and Ahsoka's growth as a Jedi take center stage.

It's in these big-picture storylines that the series truly shines. The animation gets better and better each season, to accommodate these rising stakes. Yes, there are some filler arcs, but they're easily forgotten once the good stuff starts. And, perhaps most impressively, "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" takes preexisting arcs from the "Star Wars" prequels and massively improves them through rich, thorough character development. There's truly something for everyone in "Star Wars: The Clone Wars." When it's at its best, there's no better "Star Wars" show in the world.

By most reasonable estimations, "Andor" shouldn't exist as it does. It's a show that takes viewers to corners of the "Star Wars" universe previously only witnessed in ancillary comics and novels. Through the primary lens of soon-to-be-rebel Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), the series paints a grim and gritty picture of the galaxy under Imperial rule, exploring elements of Palpatine's regime only ever hinted at before.

Police brutality, surveillance states, prison labor camps, abusive families — these are the things that make up the meat of "Andor." And yet, the show never steps so far into the darkness that it ceases to feel like "Star Wars." We still get great sci-fi action throughout — escapes from Imperial cruisers, vault heists, blaster battles — and they're all more impactful for being included so sparsely. Composer Nicholas Britell brings a new sound to "Star Wars" that underscores every powerful moment, and the cinematography is simply some of the best in the history of the franchise.

But as good as "Andor" looks and sounds, and as daring as its larger themes are, the real draw here is the story. Luna's leading performance is spectacular, as are those from Stellan Skarsgård, Fiona Shaw, Kyle Soller, Adria Arjona, Genevieve O'Reilly, Denise Gough, and the rest of the cast. The show builds its stakes masterfully, making every monologue and tense confrontation an edge-of-your-seat moment. "Andor" is "Star Wars" at its absolute best, on TV or otherwise, and it's living proof that you don't need lightsabers or flashy cameos to make the audience care.