How to Catch Up On Star Wars
My ongoing guide to the rapidly expanding galaxy far, far away.
Looking for my Star Wars reading order? That’s in part 2, mentioned at the end, but if you’ve watched and played everything in this article, you can skip ahead here:
Looking for my comics reading order? That’s in part 3, mentioned at the end of part 2, but if you’ve already read or listened to everything in the first two parts, you can skip to it here:
Welcome to Klaudia’s Ultimate Star Wars Guide. Please keep your hands and feet in the ride at all times and prepare for side commentary.
If you haven’t noticed, everything is a franchise that never ends lately. Star Wars, obviously, is no exception. You might hear about shows on Disney+ like the Mandalorian and think, “I’ve only seen the movies, where the fuck do I start? Should I bother? Hold on, there’s CARTOONS?!” Now that literally every piece of media about an IP is almost (almost) readily available, many people are now faced with catching up on literally decades of storytelling if you want to dive any deeper into anything.
You’ve searched Google for “essential clone wars episodes” “clone wars watch guide” “who is thrawn.” You’ve asked your Star Wars nerd friends and they have…extremely polarizing and complicated views. It’s ok. I‘m here to help. Hold my hand. I’ve got you.
Am I a little biased? Maybe. But I’ve introduced a lot of people to Star Wars for the first time, and I’ve consumed a LOT of it, and I hope I can demystify it all a little bit. Please know that if I include commentary it’s because it will help you understand why certain things are the way they are, not because I like to hear myself talk (or??? write???).
(And for any diehard SW fans reading this — a lot of this is based on my personal opinion. I know many of you will disagree! I’m happy to explain my reasoning for a lot of this, but I don’t want to confuse people!)
The Films
If you’re reading this, you are probably in one of three groups.
- You’ve never seen any Star Wars (or just don’t remember them that well and want to start fresh). Use my Padawan Learner order.
Start with the hits, the original trilogy, the way George wanted:
- A New Hope
- Empire Strikes Back
- Return of the Jedi
A note for newbies: the version on Disney+ of these films you are going to watch is the remastered version, where George Lucas added some things in CGI that weren’t there originally when the films came out. This is where arguments like “Han Shot First” came from. Just know that Han clipping through Jabba’s tail like a video game is not normal, and is extremely weird. It’s not too much of a change, but it is kind of jarring especially in the first film.
Take it back now (to the prequels), y’all:
- Phantom Menace
- Attack of the Clones
- Revenge of the Sith
Two hops this time (the “Star Wars Story” anthology films):
- Solo
- Rogue One
Cha cha real smooth (into the sequel era):
- Force Awakens
- Last Jedi
- Rise of Skywalker
2. You’ve seen the films before, but maybe not all of them, and/or are still unsure about this whole thing. Use my Getting Back Into Star Wars order.
- the original trilogy (New Hope, Empire, Return of the Jedi)
- Phantom Menace
- Attack of the Clones
3. You’ve opened this guide ready for anything, have seen the films before, maybe recently rewatched them, you’re strapped in and ready to put your foot on the gas. Use my Pre-Clone Wars Prep order.
- Phantom Menace
- Attack of the Clones
Into the Filoni (and more)-Verse: These Are Your First Steps into Star Wars TV
OK! Here you are! Ready to begin the shows that make Star Wars great!
We’re doing these in (mostly) chronological order, pending what’s being released as I write this. This is a living document!
1. The HBIC: “The Clone Wars”
For some background — TCW aired mostly on Cartoon Network during its run, before it was cancelled after season 5 when Lucasfilm was bought by Disney. It was picked up by Netflix, where it continued with a final 6th season of “the Lost Missions,” and then, we thought, it was over. When Disney got into the streaming game, they announced they would finish the Clone Wars and produce season 7. The thing about the Clone Wars is that, like the prequels, we know how it ends. (If you’ve never seen Star Wars before this is where you should stop reading!)
We know the whole time that it will end with Order 66 because of Revenge of the Sith. So when the show was cancelled before reaching that looming end, it was devastating, especially since the last few seasons were completely planned out. As you’re watching, and when you reach the end of season 5 and 6, keep this in mind.
All this being said — for many people, this is the Star Wars THEY grew up on, airing every week on Cartoon Network. Ahsoka, arguably its main character along with the clones like Rex and Cody, is beloved because she is awesome, but also because she’s one of the few Star Wars characters we get to spend a really long time with (more than the movies!).
Over the course of the series, you’ll see VAST improvements in animation (it’s really a marvel to watch), many moments of “holy shit they put THAT on CARTOON NETWORK?! THIS IS A SHOW FOR KIDS,” and many obligatory “haha nice Star Wars reference I see what you did there” moments if you are looking closely. This show was (and still is) a very big deal — other than the main films, the Clone Wars movie that premiered the series actually aired in theaters.
Here’s how it works: TCW is told in story arcs across 1–5 episodes. It actually makes it very easily bingeable, in nice manageable chunks. The last two seasons are shorter than the rest, so it’s not as long as it seems. Also, for some godforsaken reason, the episodes are out of order, some arcs split up or in the wrong place in-universe. For example, the movie I referenced before is actually the END of the first “arc” of the series. (But it’s listed separately on Disney+, as an FYI.)
Many people will tell you, “Oh, you only need to watch certain arcs.” I disagree. The whole point of the show’s existence is to flesh out a time period with huge effects on the rest of the history of the galaxy, and to give us more time with characters from the films. I truly think nothing should be skipped (even the Jar Jar arcs, despite the pain they bring me).
“Klaudia, this sounds complicated.”
It’s not, I promise! There are many people who have already made handy guides to the Clone Wars. Here’s my favorite TCW watch guide, because it splits it up by story arc:
“Klaudia, what the hell is Dark Disciple? Why are they talking about a comic? What is that unfinished shit at the bottom of the guide? I thought this was a TV show.”
Well, when the show was cancelled and they never thought it was coming back, they took some of the arcs they had planned, and made one into a comic, (Son of Dathomir), and one into a book (Dark Disciple). I highly recommend them both, and to read them in the order they were supposed to pop up during TCW. (The audiobook for Dark Disciple is really phenomenal and will make you very sad it never got made into a full television arc!)
There are also some unfinished story reels for several arcs that were never made, that you can find clips of on YouTube and other places on the internet. The one that exists in its entirety (and unfortunately had some really important overall plot and character points), is called “Crystal Crisis on Utapau,” and I highly recommend watching it.
The other previously unfinished arcs were eventually finished — like the Bad Batch arc, which you’ll see in season 7.
You won’t want it for the first watch around, but if you ever go back and rewatch the Clone Wars TV movie that started it all, my Star Wars podcast, RuPalp’s Podrace, did a live commentary — listen along!
2. The Extremely Painful “Revenge of the Sith” Rewatch
Here you are! You made it through the Clone Wars. You’ve just finished the Siege of Mandalore. You ok? You got some tissues? Good. Now go rewatch Revenge of the Sith. Order 66 is about to hit you like a truck.
3. She’s an Icon, She’s the Moment: “Star Wars Rebels”
Rebels begins about 5 years before A New Hope, and follows the Ghost crew as they develop from individual rebel cell into a part of the Rebel Alliance we know. (Along with several Clone Wars and other characters we know and love…) It is my favorite Star Wars TV show ever made, and includes my favorite moment in all of Star Wars. And it is essential for all the new shows coming out like Ahsoka, the Mandalorian, and the Book of Boba Fett. Originally, when Dave Filoni wasn’t able to finish TCW, it was the spiritual successor to TCW, and I consider them two halves of one whole story.
Rebels was produced by Disney and aired on Disney XD. It finished during the era where Disney was putting out the sequel films and had LARGE gaps in release. You are extremely lucky to be able to watch it all at once, and also that Rebels episodes are completely in order. The first and last season are half as long as the rest, and unlike TCW’s arcs, each episode is only 20 minutes (except a few 2-parters), so it’s an easier binge than it looks.
The only thing you need to know to get started is that there are a series of Rebels shorts (listed separately on Disney+) that you should watch first, because they introduce each new character.
4. The Ahsoka and Dooku Order 66 Fun Time Hour, aka “Tales of the Jedi”
More recently, Dave Filoni and the Lucasfilm Animation squad got to dip back into the Clone Wars (and early Empire) period with a series of shorts focusing on Ahsoka and Dooku, two Jedi who left the Order before Order 66. They show important snapshots in their lives that illustrate the Jedi’s complex political relationship with the Republic, and are really beautiful, and very heartbreaking after watching all of this. (Also, look closely — Caleb Dume and his master Depa Billaba appear in the background in one of the shorts!)
5. They Call Themselves the Bad Bitch: TCW Season 8, aka “The Bad Batch”
In the way the Clone Wars was about that whole era, this show is about how the Republic became the Empire, through clones’ eyes. It picks up right at Order 66 so, uh, keep those tissues out.
You can listen to my podcast’s thoughts on season 1 of the series here:
Note: This series has a lot of potential, and a LOT of worldbuilding and connection to other series you know and love (Hera Syndulla enjoyers, you will be fed), but has been really hampered by the whitewashing of the members of the Bad Batch (and of young Caleb Dume in the first episode). Even after some improvements in season 1, and to a few members of the Batch like Hunter and Wrecker, it’s a persistent issue. If you choose to watch it, please educate yourself on #UnwhitewashTBB, and the reasons why this undermines the storytelling.
6. My Uncle the Jedi Master, aka “Obi-Wan Kenobi”
This is one of the first live action Star Wars TV shows not in the Dave Filoni/Jon Favreau collaboration like the Mandalorian, or the Book of Boba Fett. (But Dave is still a creative exec nowadays at Lucasfilm, so his influence, as you’ll see from ALL the Rebels references, is felt.) It begins 10 years after Revenge of the Sith and Order 66, with Obi-Wan in hiding on Tatooine watching over Luke. No spoilers, but if you are a fan of Leia, this is also the show for you.
You can listen to my podcast’s thoughts on the series here:
7. Palate Cleanser! The “Solo” Rewatch
We’re about to enter the Age of Rebellion, and let’s be honest, you need a palate cleanser. And that Maul cameo makes a lot more sense now, huh! This takes place at the same time as the Obi-Wan Kenobi series, about 10 years in to the Empire’s reign. (This uh, illustrates quite clearly the Han and Leia age gap…)
My podcast also did a live commentary for this movie too, listen along with us as you rewatch:
8. Comrade Star Wars Says Throw Bricks at Police and Abolish Prisons, aka “Andor”
Beginning at right about the same time Rebels starts (5 years before A New Hope), Andor tells the backstory of Cassian Andor, the Rebellion intelligence officer who made Rogue One happen, and Mon Mothma, one of the Rebellion’s founders with Padmé and Bail Organa (go check out those Revenge of the Sith deleted scenes for that important scene!) Much like Rebels, it details why and how people were recruited into individual rebel cells, far before the Alliance came together to defeat a Death Star. It is one of Star Wars’ best TV shows (and I believe its best live action one to date), and arguably its most political.
You can listen to my podcast’s thoughts on season 1 after you finish here:
9. The Age of Rebellion Rewatch
Now it’s time to look at how they defeat the Empire with all you’ve seen in mind. So much about this era is going to hurt more now. Sorry.
- Rogue One (I apologize for this extra pain in advance. If you watch closely, and with subtitles, Chopper and the Ghost show up on the rebel base. They also call for “General Syndulla,” and the Ghost shows up at the battle over Scarif.)
- the Original Trilogy (ANH, ESB, ROTJ)
10. I WANT TO SEE THE BABY: “The Mandalorian” Seasons 1 & 2
A lot of you may be reading this because you watched this show, so congrats! This might be a rewatch for you! But one with quite a lot of added context now…
Much like how the Bad Batch is about a time of transition in the galaxy, this show is about the era of the New Republic between Return of the Jedi and the Force Awakens, through the eyes of a new character. But of course, it is extremely connected to all that came before. After you’ve watched the first two seasons, you should listen to my podcast’s recap!
We also did a dating game episode for Din Djarin you might like:
11. “The Book of Boba Fett”, aka Mandalorian Season 2.5
The man, the action figure myth, the clone legend, Boba Fett finally gets to tell his own story. After Boba is reintroduced to us in the Mandalorian, this show acts like the next “arc” of the Mandalorian, so it’s an essential watch. Features: (some) respect for Tuskens, a HUGE amount of characters you know and love, a favorite character from the comics making the jump to the big screen, the Spy Kids-ification of Star Wars, and Mando-LORE.
You can listen to my podcast’s thoughts on the series here:
Since it does include the next part of Din and Grogu’s story as well, it’s essential to understand what’s next in The Mandalorian. (It really should’ve been a part of the show….)
12. “The Mandalorian” Season 3: The Mandalorian(s)
As the post-ROTJ era expands into multiple shows and Din’s quest is finished, his story now focuses on his identity as a Mandalorian, and what it means to be the survivor of a culture almost wiped out by the Empire (much like Grogu and the Jedi).
You can listen to our Mando S3 wrap-up once you’re done here:
13. Rebels 2 Electric Boogaloo: “Ahsoka”
After the Clone Wars, Rebels, the Mandalorian, and the Book of Boba Fett, this is the culmination of Dave Filoni’s magnum opus. We have seen Ahsoka at almost every stage of her life, and now we see her with Rebels favorites like Sabine Wren, Hera Syndulla, and Chopper, looking for Thrawn and Ezra, who (spoiler alert) disappeared at the end of Rebels. Ahsoka has been associated with almost every faction in Star Wars, from Jedi, to rebels, to Mandalorians, and been a part of almost every era, just like us, the viewer. Who is she now? What does it mean to be a Jedi when you left the Order and the Order is gone?
14. “The Force Awakens” Rewatch
Welcome back to the sequel era! There’s another animated show people don’t talk about as much tied with this era, so rewatch TFA to get yourself situated again.
15. The Often Ignored Hidden Gem: “Star Wars Resistance”
If you’ve heard anything about Star Wars in the past few years, you know it’s been kind of a rocky road. While the sequels and anthology films were coming out (and the final two seasons of Rebels), they produced another animated show, for a similar purpose as the ones before — to flesh out the time period and wider galactic issues at play, through the eyes of new characters. Who knows what actually occurred, or why it was cut short, but Resistance is only two seasons, so its potential to reach that goal was never fully realized. It was at a disadvantage the other shows didn’t have — it was being made while the films were being made, instead of after.
It has so many hidden gems, so many of our favorite characters who make appearances, and such interesting new characters, that I don’t think it should be skipped. At this point in your journey, I recommend watching Season 1, and then….
16. “The Last Jedi” Rewatch
Resistance occurs concurrently with some of the sequel films, so pop this one in between there!
17. “Resistance” Season 2
Enjoy your time in the sequel era a little longer! I love the Colossus crew and so should you!
18. “The Rise of Skywalker” Rewatch
Make sure you watch this one with subtitles this time. The moment with all the Jedi at the end with Rey is really gonna hit differently after all you’ve watched.
I’ll Try Spinning, That’s a Neat Trick: Video Games
There are SO many Star Wars video games, both legends, canon, and everything in between. The LEGO Star Wars games are iconic, and the Knights of the Old Republic games are legendary. But there are a few canon games I think you should get to know to understand some important info in the current canon continuity. If you don’t have the time or equipment to play, I’ve included some walkthroughs you can watch like a movie!
1. Cal Kestis’ No Good Very Bad Day, aka “Jedi: Fallen Order” & “Jedi: Survivor”
Fallen Order is almost universally beloved, even with some people’s hesitation with EA games. If you loved Rebels, this one will have EVERYTHING for you — the pain of experiencing Order 66 again, a padawan survivor trying to figure out how to be a Jedi, Inquisitors, Jedi lore, a Lasat, and more! This was also the first appearance of the Inquisitorius fortress seen in the Obi-Wan show. The comic miniseries Jedi Fallen Order — Dark Temple serves as a prequel.
Don’t have time to play it? Here’s a great walkthrough to watch:
The sequel to Fallen Order, set 5 years after, Jedi: Survivor, just released, and you should definitely read its fantastic prequel novel, Battle Scars, set in between the two games. (It’s one of my FAVORITE Star Wars books, and wonderful for Merrin fans).
Then watch a walkthrough of the sequel!
2. Disco Inferno Squad, aka “Battlefront II”
If you ask any Star Wars gamer, they’ll have a lot of opinions about these (and, again, about EA). There’s good and bad in them, like many of the movies themselves. The first Battlefront doesn’t have much new story content — you’re playing battles from the original trilogy from your own POV, and there’s a novel, Twilight Company, that covers a story based on the game.
Battlefront II, though, has become quite important to the ongoing canon. You follow Iden Versio and Inferno Squad through the end of the Empire and beyond, with important plot ties to the Emperor’s final plans, with Operation Cinder, which you may have heard referenced in The Mandalorian. The novel Battlefront II: Inferno Squad serves as its prequel, featuring both characters from the game and from TCW. If you don’t have time to play it, here’s a good playthrough to watch:
Need something to listen to while you grind away at all these games? The RuPalp’s Podrace gaming episode is a real treat:
Welcome to Wild Space: All the Fun Stuff
You’ve done it! You’ve now watched or are caught up on more than 12 movies, 9 TV shows, and played or watched someone play at least 2 video games, and cried a little too much than is healthy. Now is the time for some extra fun! This is not a comprehensive list of additional Star Wars media, just a list of what I think you should start with. (These are also all on Disney+ if not stated otherwise!)
1. FOR A DOLLAR, NAME A WOMAN: the “Forces of Destiny” shorts
This series of shorts focusing on female characters across the galaxy far, far away has so many hidden gems. Now that you’ve met all the relevant players, it’s a really fun watch — especially when characters who never got to meet get some time on screen together. These are canon (and on both D+ and YouTube).
2. It’s Better Than Drugs, Jeremy…IT’S FROM JAPAN: “Visions”
As you may have seen already, Star Wars is at its best animated. And Lucasfilm themselves decided to acknowledge that, and also acknowledge Star Wars’ wholesale stealing of Japanese culture, by bringing it back to the source: yes, this is the Star Wars anime.
Visions isn’t “canon,” per se, but exists in parallel to the current canon. The first season is a series of 9 short films from a few different famous anime studios, who were given the freedom to create stories within the Star Wars universe. Some very easily fit into canon spaces, some don’t, or could, maybe with more info. It doesn’t really matter, because it fucking slaps. Watch it twice, in both Japanese and English (or your native language), and then listen to RuPalp’s Podrace’s Visions episode!
If you enjoy the first short, The Duel, they released a a one-shot comic prequel, written and illustrated by the animator who made it, Takashi Okazaki, and also a novel continuing the story of the short, called Ronin. Ronin is one of my favorite Star Wars novels in general and great for Star Wars beginners because you don’t need any other knowledge. When you finish it you should listen to my podcast’s interview with the author!
The second season of Visions features animated shorts from animation studios around the world, not just in Japan, and is also some of the best of Star Wars.
You can listen to my podcast discuss the second season here:
3. The Original “Clone Wars” Series
Did you know there are actually two Clone Wars series? This one, which is now not canon but “legends” (Lucasfilm’s way of distinguishing what has stayed in the ongoing continuity), was created by the legendary Genndy Tartakovsky (who also created Samurai Jack and Dexter’s Laboratory).
It started before Revenge of the Sith even came out, and actually is the first place Grievous appears. It’s highly critically acclaimed, and although different from the TCW you know, phenomenal.
3. LEGO Star Wars
There is SO much LEGO Star Wars content, from the Skywalker Saga game, to some of the animated series like Droid Tales, All-Stars, the Freemaker Adventures, and the New Yoda Chronicles, and more. It’s satirical and not canon, but bears the spirit of the best of Star Wars, when it doesn’t take itself too seriously and has fun. My unironic favorite Star Wars trilogy are the three LEGO holiday specials:
The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special,
The LEGO Halloween movie, Terrifying Tales (which pulls a lot of references and inspiration from the Star Wars Adventures: Tales From Vader’s Castle comics!),
And the Summer Vacation special!
Have fun with every short, special, series, movie, and video game cutscene!
Since Your Entire Life Is Star Wars Now, It’s Time for Books and Comics
If you’ve gotten this far, then you’ve probably already read some books and comics I told you to start with. But as you continue, things get tricky — Star Wars has released a LOT of books and comics. When Disney bought Lucasfilm, LFL decided to have an overarching “canon” and make almost everything from before “legends,” which meant deciding which things fit the new canon of connected stories they wanted to tell, and which didn’t because they contradicted each other. You might have heard people fight about this. There’s no value judgement between them, and there are many wonderful legends books and comics, it’s just helpful to know what was made before and what was made now with everything in mind.
So with over 45 years worth of publishing in front of you: where the fuck do you start?
Lots of people have different answers to that question. But here’s mine, in Part 2 of the Ultimate Star Wars Catch-Up Guide:
