Star Wars: Tales of the Empire releases on May 4, 2024.

The Lucasfilm dive into Dave Filoni‘s most cherished characters has frustrated some fans. Many loved Ahsoka and the relaunch of Clone Wars adjacent shows. However, others have grown weary of over-using these characters, specifically if they do not have prior knowledge. In many ways, Tales of Empire exists because of the hardcore fans who love Clone Wars and Rebels-era characters. However, the expanding universe has paid dividends already, with greenlit shows and movies based on characters Filoni created from scratch, or co-created.

Yet the question about including more Filoni characters has become a hot-button issue in the fandom. Unlike Tales of the Jedi, this series focuses on more obscure figures within the larger Star Wars canon. Without having seen Ahsoka or deep into Clone Wars, you might never have seen these figures. The results have been inconsistent – providing a backstory for a character that few will feel necessary. Despite this, the animation throughout the series cannot be denied, as Lucasfilm continues to approach a hybrid between its stylized animation and realistic environments.

Star Wars: Tales of the Empire The Plot

Split into six episodes, we see two different stories unfold throughout the series. The first three focus on Morgan Elsbeth, a Nightsister first introduced to audiences in The Mandalorian Season 2. Before serving the Empire, Elsbeth learned how to control her powers after the death of her family at the hands of General Grievous. Slowly, her hatred corrupted her in the years to follow.

The second three episodes follow Barriss Offee, an original Clone Wars character. During her time serving the Jedi, Barriss became disillusioned with their tactics and organization. She eventually turned to the dark side, even framing Ahsoka for crimes against the Jedi. Her story picks up after The Clone Wars have ended, and a new opportunity presents itself to join the Empire.

Star Wars: Tales of the Empire Critique

Throughout both halves of Tales of the Empire, the animation continues to improve. It’s fascinating to see just how far Lucasfilm has come in this regard. What was once considered a weak aspect for the shows can no longer be described this way. The details are immaculate and easily become a highlight in the Elsbeth storyline. Furthermore, they provide an increased level of physicality that helps us engage. The brilliant original vistas are among the most inspired designs in the Disney universe. With a sense of scale and impeccable visuals, you will fall in love with the planets visited.

However, the characters make this a little harder to enjoy the series. The choice to go with Morgan Elsbeth seemed short-sighted in many ways, especially given her fate in Ahsoka. However, the backstory provides more information on the Nightsisters, who may become an important group in the series. While the attempt to create sympathy for Elsbeth is noble, Tales of the Empire cannot fulfill that promise. Instead, her story is predictable and underbaked. We never needed to see her backstory, and we still understood most of what drove her.

Meanwhile, the Barriss Offee provides one of the best storylines to date. The specifics of her journey are intriguing, especially given where she left Clone Wars. Even more important, she paves the way for storytelling around the Inquisitors. These characters, best known as Jedi hunters, are among the most intriguing due to their moral ambiguity. Framing Barriss in this light helps showcase a complete fall into darkness for Tales of the Empire, yet also reveals more nuance in her actions.

Between the two storylines, the Barriss story is emotionally and visually thrilling in ways that the Morgan Elsbeth episodes never reach. Additionally, they leave room for additional stories to be told about each character. Like Tales of the Jedi, these serve as an excellent foundation of storytelling for a future series while not requiring larger commitments. If nothing else, Lucasfilm uses these stories to test new technologies and animation, which has become a massive win for the animation house.

Conclusion

Tales of the Empire is a mixed bag with stunning visuals but uneven storytelling. There are moments when you can feel the show reaching for greatness, and when it misses the mark, it makes it more disappointing. Unfortunately, Tales of the Empire does not fulfill the promise of a Morgan Elsbeth learning space-witchcraft story. With only six episodes, missing the mark on one episode leaves a bad taste in your mouth. However, the Barriss story stuns and provides a brilliant three-act vision in the context of a vast galaxy. This collection might be imperfect, but it’s also intriguing enough for casual and hardcore Star Wars fans.

Six episodes were made available to critics for review. Star Wars: Tales of the Empire releases on May 4, 2024.

7/10

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