So, the season finale of the Mandalorian dropped last Friday, and Star Wars buzz is back in full swing. Reactions range from pure childhood elation to pleasant satisfaction to skepticism at Disney’s apparent shift away from the sequel trilogy. Whether you’re a casual Star Wars fan or a die-hard member of the Fandom Menace, you may want to chase that Mando high with more Star Wars. I did my homework over the last week and crafted a healthy list of the Star Wars shows that tie directly into Season 2 of The Mandalorian.
As of this writing, Mando is trending #1 on Disney Plus. No surprise there. But in 4th Place is a show called Star Wars: The Clone Wars and in 21st Place is another show called Star Wars: Rebels. These other two shows are trending because so much of what’s happening on The Mandalorian is heavily interconnected with these two other Star Wars shows. Ahsoka and Bo-Katan, for example, have some incredible backstories that are finding new light on The Mandalorian.
You need to get caught up!
Did you know that the Darksaber you saw in The Mandalorian has a massive backstory central to Mandalorian culture? Did you know that Ahsoka Tano was once Anakin Skywalker’s apprentice who survived Order 66 and helped start the rebellion? Did you know that Bo-Katan’s quest for the Darksaber can be traced to a duel for the throne of Mandalore against none other than Darth Maul?
Below is a list of episodes from both The Clone Wars and Rebels that tie directly to the events of The Mandalorian. Each episode is roughly 20 minutes long, so they are very easy to watch. Don’t be fooled by the fact that these shows are animated. The Clone Wars, especially, boasts award-winning animation that may never be surpassed, sometimes touching on spectacular. You‘ll see what all the hype is about—The Clone Wars carries all the gravitas of Star Wars while adding so many new characters and stories.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Season 1: Episode 19 Storm Over Ryloth
A solid introduction to Ahsoka Tano and her mentor-Padawan relationship with Anakin Skywalker. Ahsoka is no Mary Sue.
Season 2: Episode 5 Landing at Point Rain
A dramatic set-piece battle on Geonosis that’s better than the one in Attack of the Clones. Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka all lead the Galactic Republic into combat.
Season 4: Episode 14: A Friend in Need
The introduction of Bo-Katan and the political civil war brewing on Mandalore
Season 5 – Three-Part Series
Episode 14 Eminence
Episode 15 Shades of Reason
Episode 16 The Lawless
This is the crux of the civil war on Mandalore and some of the best Star Wars there is. Darth Maul, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Bo-Katan all lead different factions for control over Mandalore. You’ll even learn Obi-Wan’s most closely guarded secret and witness the shocking reunion between Darth Maul and Chancellor Palpatine.
Season 5 – Four-Part Series
Episodes 17 Sabotage
Episode 18 The Jedi Who Knew Too Much
Episode 19 To Catch a Jedi
Episode 20 The Wrong Jedi
These four episodes serve as a precursor to Order 66, centered on Ahsoka Tano and Anakin Skywalker. In my opinion, this mini-series is the best Star Wars subplot outside the Original Trilogy. After watching, you’ll know why Ahsoka Tano is revered by Star Wars fans around the world and why she’s getting her own series.
Season 7 – Four-Part Series
Episodes 9 Old Friends Not Forgotten
Episode 10 Phantom Apprentice
Episode 11 Shattered
Episode 12 Victory and Death
These four episodes came out earlier this year, just a few months before Season 2 of The Mandalorian. This miniseries features Bo-Katan, Anakin, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Darth Maul, and Ahsoka Tano and concludes the civil war on Mandalore. Even more incredible, the scenes overlap with Order 66, which fills the episodes with a palpable sense of dread.
Star Wars: Rebels
Season 2 – Two-Part Series
Episode 1 The Siege of Lothal Part 1
Episode 2 The Siege of Lothal Part 2
These two episodes are worth it for three reasons: James. Earl. Jones. He returns to voice Darth Vader and even pilots his custom TIE-fighter Advanced x1. Quite frankly, Rebels attached itself to Star Wars lore after these two episodes. Ahsoka Tano also returns to encounter Anakin’s presence for the first time since the Clone Wars.
Season 2 – Two-Part Series
Episode 21 Twilight of the Apprentice Part 1
Episode 22 Twilight of the Apprentice Part 2
Must-see Star Wars. Ahsoka Tano and Darth Vader cross lightsabers in a phenomenal confrontation that is as good as any in the whole Star Wars saga.
Season 3: Episode 15: Trials of the Darksaber
Bo-Katan debuts on Rebels and the plot behind the Darksaber resumes.
Season 3 – Two-Part Series
Episode 21 Zero Hour Part 1
Episode 22 Zero Hour Part 2
Grand Admiral Thrawn leads the Empire in a large set-piece space battle against the budding Rebel Alliance. (Remember, Ahsoka is seeking this very Grand Admiral in her episode of The Mandalorian.)
Season 4 – Two-Part Series
Episode 1 Heroes of Mandalore Part 1
Episode 2 Heroes of Mandalore Part 2
These two episodes pick up the drama on Mandalore and follow Bo-Katan’s effort to claim the Darksaber and restore order and pride to her people.
Season 4: Episode 13: A World Between Worlds
This episode is becoming the central focus for the future of Star Wars. Ahsoka discovers something called the Veil of the Force, which is a powerful nexus that can change events in the past. Take a look at the logo below for Ahsoka’s new show. The ‘O’ in her name is the actual symbol for the Veil of the Force. Strong speculation surrounds the possibility that the sequel trilogy will be overwritten, altered, or erased using the Veil of the Force.
There you have it, folks. These are the shows to watch until Season 3 of The Mandalorian.
On Rotten Tomatoes, The Clone Wars is the highest fan-rated Star Wars story, just below the Original Trilogy and just above The Mandalorian.
Moreover, just a couple of weeks ago, Disney announced several new shows, such as Ahsoka, featuring Rosario Dawson as Ahsoka, The Book of Boba Fett, featuring Temuera Morrison as Boba Fett, Rangers of the New Republic, featuring Gina Carano as Cara Dune, and Obi-Wan Kenobi, which will feature both Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christianson as Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader, respectively. Some of these shows will likely surpass The Mandalorian in popularity. None of the new shows are spin-offs from the sequel trilogy.
Folks, Star Wars is moving away from the checkered sequel trilogy and toward a continuum of storylines from The Mandalorian, The Clone Wars, and Rebels.
So, get on board, Mando fans! Mando is leading us all right into the future of Star Wars.
Douglas A. Burton is an award-winning author whose current project centers on heroic women in fiction. For more, check out his website at douglasaburton.com