Despite the vastness of the Star Wars universe, encompassing almost five decades of narrative through 11 main movies, numerous TV series, and various other media ventures, not all parts are equally significant. In truth, there seem to be four relatively unimportant Star Wars TV shows on Disney+ that, for one reason or another, fail to match up to the greatness of The Mandalorian in terms of their contribution to the Lucasian legend.
This statement doesn’t evaluate the quality of each Star Wars streaming series; instead, it points out that certain titles don’t have as much impact on the overall narrative as others (either by setting up a movie like Andor or resolving significant plot threads such as Ahsoka). As a result, these series might be less important for viewers who want to follow key story developments in the Star Wars universe.
Star Wars’ 4 Least Essential TV Shows
The Acolyte
Discussing Leslye Headland’s The Acolyte series has sparked intense debate among Star Wars enthusiasts. Some fans passionately support this streaming prequel series, while others vehemently criticize it. Regardless of individual opinions, there’s no denying the show’s impact on broader Star Wars discussions, particularly given the current state of the franchise.
What makes The Acolyte stand out on this list is that it’s separate from the mainstream Star Wars franchise as we typically know it. The upcoming 2024 streaming series is unique because it’s the first live-action TV show within the Star Wars universe, taking place before the movie events, at the end of the esteemed High Republic era.
At present, enthusiasts have primarily explored High Republic lore through various books set during this era, leaving “The Acolyte” with no direct links to the movies that most fans associate with the franchise. Its only ties to the broader universe are characters and storylines addressed in the Star Wars novels.
Obi-Wan Kenobi
If we were to imagine Star Wars as a college course, Obi-Wan Kenobi would be like recommended additional reading that you find on the syllabus. Unlike other shows on this list, the streaming series centered around Ewan McGregor significantly connects to the main Star Wars films; however, it doesn’t contribute anything substantial to the Skywalker Saga as a whole.
In Obi-Wan Kenobi, we delve deeper into familiar characters like Obi-Wan and revisit their stories. Here, McGregor’s character serves as a guardian for young Princess Leia Organa, all while grappling with his former pupil, Anakin Skywalker (portrayed by Hayden Christensen again). However, the events that unfold during its six-episode run don’t significantly alter our overall view of the franchise moving forward.
In essence, it’s not implying that it lacks ties to the broader Star Wars universe; instead, it offers valuable insights into the bond between Obi-Wan and Leia. Nevertheless, it keeps the characters in their Revenge of the Sith positions, which might create some confusion for fans transitioning from this standoff between Obi-Wan and Anakin to A New Hope.
Star Wars Resistance
In terms of its animated series, the Star Wars franchise has received a lot of positive feedback. Shows like Star Wars: Rebels and the expansive Clone Wars have demonstrated that animation can effectively develop the story and provide important insights into key plotlines within the series. However, one notable exception to this rule is Star Wars Resistance.
In simpler terms, the TV shows that were part of Disney XD’s sequel era do not significantly expand upon the timeline of the Star Wars saga they are set within, unlike “Clone Wars” or “Rebels.” These shows mainly focus on a group of Resistance recruits battling against the First Order during “The Force Awakens,” “The Last Jedi,” and “Rise of Skywalker,” but their story doesn’t add much to the overall narrative of the Star Wars universe as those previous series do.
In the two seasons of Resistance, while some characters from the films briefly appeared, their occurrences did not significantly influence the broader storyline within the Star Wars universe.
Skeleton Crew
A strong case against this list critiquing a specific project’s quality might be the newly launched “Skeleton Crew” series. This 2024 streaming production, helmed by “Spider-Man: Homecoming” director Jon Watts, garnered an impressive 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics raving about its engaging story reminiscent of a cosmic treasure hunt similar to “The Goonies.
The storyline, on the other hand, barely links with the broader Star Wars universe. The only substantial association it has with the wider canon is that a few of its pirates made brief appearances to foreshadow the Disney+ series in The Mandalorian’s third season.
Beyond this, it’s important to note that “Skeleton Crew” exists independently from the broader Star Wars narrative. Yet, there’s a possibility that the events of “Skeleton Crew” might link up with Dave Filoni’s upcoming “MandoVerse” conclusion movie as time progresses.
BONUS: The Book of Boba Fett
Without two significant instances, “The Book of Boba Fett” wouldn’t make this list. However, it lingers on the edge of being non-essential due to certain aspects. This Jon Favreau and Robert Rodriguez spin-off of “The Mandalorian” primarily revolves around Temuera Morrison’s Boba Fett, as portrayed in Season 2 of “The Mandalorian.” The story follows the events leading up to his appearance in the main “Mando” series and his ambition to rule Tatooine as a daimyo.
Although it may seem that these episodes don’t deeply connect to the broader Star Wars saga, two of them significantly advance the storyline. These particular episodes primarily focus on the character played by Pedro Pascal, Din Djarin (also known as The Mandalorian), who is on a mission to retrieve Grogu from his Jedi training under Mark Hamill’s Luke Skywalker.
In my humble opinion as a film critic, these two chapters have significantly shifted the trajectory of the MandoVerse, reuniting The Mandalorian’s dynamic duo and paving the way for the upcoming events in Mando Season 3 and the forthcoming Mando and Grogu cinematic adventure.
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2025-06-15 04:04