All 15 Star Wars Series Premieres Ranked

Star Wars may have begun on the big screen, but the franchise has grown to encompass an impressive array of TV shows, and every series premiere offers a unique introduction. Simple animation defined Star Wars on TV before improving in quality over time, and Disney eventually released the first live-action shows. The variety of art styles, tone, setting, and characters means that each series premiere had different goals and methods for introducing their storylines. It also means every premiere introduces viewers to Star Wars differently, each with mixed results.

The different series premiere also highlights one of Star Wars‘ greatest strengths: it has something for every kind of fan. Whether animated or live-action, short or long, each series caters to different viewers, and the first episode allows fans to sample what every show has to offer. That said, some episodes are better than others, and the 15 Star Wars series premieres vary in quality and as an introduction to their respective shows.

Related: How To Watch Star Wars Movies In Order

18 C-3PO & R2-D2 Face Off With A Crime Lord

Star Wars: Droids “The White Witch”

Star Wars: Droids was one of the first attempts at a Star Wars TV series, and it unfortunately does not hold up very well. “The White Witch” does a good job setting up the series premise, and R2-D2 and C-3PO translate surprisingly well to 2D animation. Sadly, the human characters are far less engaging, and the villains barely feel like a threat. The episode would have worked better as an 11-minute segment rather than being dragged out to 22 minutes, keeping the focus on the fun aspects of the show. Droids may have demonstrated the potential for Star Wars on the small screen, but its series premiere is the worst.

17 Three Young Jedi On Their First Adventure In The High Republic Era

Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures “The Young Jedi/Yoda’s Mission”

Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures is perfect for its young target audience but not as likely to appeal to older demographics. While the first episode effectively introduces the main characters, they get along so well and resolve disputes so fast that it doesn’t always feel like they need to learn a lesson. Despite this, the episode boasts a vibrant animation style that maintains the adventurous spirit of Star Wars, making it a good introduction for children.

16 “Begun The Clone War Has”

Star Wars: Clone Wars “Chapter 1”

Genndy Tartakovsky’s 2D micro-series Star Wars: Clone Wars (2003) is brilliant when viewed in its entirety on Disney+, perfectly filling the gap between Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. However, when viewed in its original form, the early episodes are way too short, which was the most significant criticism when it first aired. Even so, “Chapter 1” conveys an impressive amount of information in only three minutes, making the viewer understand Anakin Skywalker and his motivations right from the start.

15 The Ewoks Must Save The Forrest Of Endor

Star Wars: Ewoks “The Cries of the Trees”

Star Wars: Ewoks aired alongside Droids and shares some of the same problems, but its first episode is far better than its companion show. Rather than forcing itself to emulate aspects of the Star Wars movies on a low budget, Ewoks embraces its unique style and premise, allowing “The Cries of the Trees” to be an entertaining first episode. The Ewoks are likable, their culture is fleshed out nicely, and the story has genuinely high stakes. While nowhere near the level of quality that Star Wars animation would later achieve, “Cries of the Trees” is still a worthwhile introduction to the world of the Ewoks.

14 Obi-Wan Is Haunted By His Past

Obi-Wan Kenobi “Part I”

Ewan McGregor slipped right back into the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi, and while the series premiere does the title character justice, the same cannot be said for the rest of the episode. Obi-Wan Kenobi was initially meant to be a movie but was stretched out into a TV series, leading to Obi-Wan Kenobi fan edits that attempted to fix the show by trimming it down into a film. With incompetent Inquisitors, a ridiculous Leia chase scene, and significantly lower production quality than other Star Wars shows, Obi-Wan Kenobi “Part I” leaves much to be desired.

13 Ahsoka Uses The Force For The First Time

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Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi “Life and Death”

Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi added fantastic stories to the animated canon but got off to a rocky start with “Life and Death.” Starting with an Ahsoka episode was an odd choice since the next three are about Dooku, and the premise is bizarre. It’s hard to feel bad for Ahsoka’s mother after she takes an infant on a hunting trip, which is incredibly dangerous and illogical. A canceled episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars would have shown how Plo Koon first brought Ahsoka to the Jedi Order, which would have been more relevant and engaging in a show called Tales of the Jedi.

10 Boba Fett Escapes The Sarlacc & Becomes Tatooine’s New Crime Lord

9

The Book of Boba Fett “Chapter 1: Stranger in a Strange Land”

Despite The Book of Boba Fett‘s problems, the show gets off to a decent start with its first episode. Seeing Boba escape the sarlacc pit is fun, his backstory with the Tuskens is intriguing, and having a bounty hunter become a crime boss is an intriguing premise. Where the episode falters is its lack of balance between the main plot and the flashbacks, leaving Boba’s story in the present without proper closure. The action scenes are disappointing, especially compared to Temuera Morrison’s return as Boba Fett in The Mandalorian season 2. This premiere set up The Book of Boba Fett‘s potential but foreshadowed the problems that led to its failure.

8 Star Wars Fully Embraces The Samurai Films That Inspired It

Star Wars: Visions “The Duel”

Star Wars: Visions offers countless fascinating takes on the Star Wars universe, and “The Duel” perfectly sets the stage for the rest of the series. The grainy, black-and-white aesthetic is a nice homage to the classic samurai films that inspired Lucas, and the anime influence allows the animation to go overboard in the best way possible. The color on the lightsabers and laser bolts stands out against the black and white, with incredible action and weapon design unlike anything before. While the episode is short, it makes the Ronin a highly engaging character through his actions and hinting at his past.

7 Cassian Andor Becomes A Wanted Man

Andor “Kassa”

Andor is one of Disney’s best Star Wars shows, and its first episode kicked things off with an engaging, albeit slow, character-driven story. The cinematography in “Kassa” is superb, showing the Star Wars universe at its darkest and grimiest while perfectly capturing the aesthetic of the original trilogy. Every character feels relatable and has clear motivations, especially Cassian Andor, who is elevated by an outstanding performance by Diego Luna. The episode feels a bit short since Andor is structured into arcs, but it does a much better job setting the stage and balancing the flashbacks than The Book of Boba Fett.

6 Yoda Teaches His Clones That “Size Matters Not”

Star Wars: The Clone Wars “Ambush”

The Clone Wars began with a bang in “Ambush,” showing how much fun Star Wars could be on the small screen while retaining a cinematic quality. Yoda is characterized perfectly in this premiere, combining all the Jedi Master’s best traits throughout the franchise as he outsmarts the droids. The only thing holding the episode back is its short runtime compared to other premieres and The Clone Wars movie already having introduced the main characters. Nevertheless, “Ambush” is a fantastic first episode of one of the best Star Wars TV shows.

5 Ahsoka & Sabine Team Up To Find Ezra

Ahsoka “Part One: Master and Apprentice”

Ahsoka

Release Date

August 23, 2023

Cast

Rosario Dawson, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Hayden Christensen, Eman Esfandi, Ivanna Sakhno, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Ray Stevenson, Genevieve O’Reilly, Lars Mikkelsen, Diana Lee Inosanto

Genres

Action, Drama, Sci-Fi

Rating

TV-14

Seasons

1

Streaming Service(s)

Disney Plus

Showrunner

Dave Filoni

While Ahsoka‘s first episode is perhaps a bit long, “Part One: Master and Apprentice” is a highly enjoyable premiere full of satisfying moments for longtime fans. Ahsoka‘s opening crawl, Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati’s introduction, and Kevin Kiner’s excellent score all make for a powerful introduction. The casting for Ahsoka is top-notch, with Rosario Dawson’s Ahsoka Tano, Natasha Liu Bordizzo’s Sabine Wren, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s Hera all capturing the essence of their animated counterparts. Topped off by an emotional arc and a fun final lightsaber duel, Ahsoka‘s premiere effectively sets the story in motion.

4 Kaz Xiono Becomes A Spy For The Resistance

Star Wars Resistance “The Recruit”

Star Wars Resistance

Release Date

October 7, 2018

Cast

Josh Brener, Myrna Velasco, Liam McIntyre, Scott Lawrence, Jonathan Lipow, Jason Hightower, Justin Ridge, Suzie McGrath, Donald Faison, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, Christopher Sean, stephen stanton

Genres

Animation, Adventure, Action

Seasons

2

Streaming Service(s)

Disney+

Showrunner

Dave Filoni

Star Wars Resistance is often considered one of the weaker animated Star Wars series, but its premiere was incredible. The double-length runtime gives the episode an advantage over some of the other animated premieres, and the pacing is very efficient in introducing the characters and the main plot. Kazuda “Kaz” Xiono is a silly yet likable protagonist with a clear personal goal, making his exploits on the Colossus entertaining and endearing. Sporting a colorful, anime-inspired animation style that makes the action pop, “The Recruit” represents Star Wars Resistance at its best.

This episode was the first appearance of Kaz’s father, Senator Hamato Xiono, who later became a recurring character in Ahsoka.

3 A Mandalorian Bounty Hunter Is Given An Unusual Job

The Mandalorian “Chapter 1: The Mandalorian”

The Mandalorian was the first live-action Star Wars show and the beginning of an interconnected TV universe, and “Chapter 1: The Mandalorian” was the best premiere fans could have asked for. The cinematography is gorgeous, capturing the look of Star Wars while matching the Western style of the show, and the action is exhilarating. Din Djarin is a man of few words who never shows his face, but this makes the character compelling as the viewer receives hints about his backstory. The final shot with Grogu, then called Baby Yoda, has become one of the most iconic visuals in the Star Wars franchise.

2 An Elite Clone Squad Disobeys Order 66

Star Wars: The Bad Batch “Aftermath”

Star Wars: The Bad Batch

Release Date

May 4, 2021

Cast

Dee Bradley Baker, Michelle Ang, Noshir Dalal, Liam O’Brien, Rhea Perlman, Sam Riegel, Bob Bergen, Gwendoline Yeo

Genres

Animation, Adventure, Action, Sci-Fi

Seasons

2

Streaming Service(s)

Disney+

Showrunner

Dave Filoni

Clocking in at 76 minutes, Star Wars: The Bad Batch has the longest Star Wars premiere, and “Aftermath” uses every minute to its advantage. The episode seamlessly transitions from The Clone Wars to The Bad Batch, perfectly exploring the state of the galaxy in the immediate aftermath of the rise of the Empire. Every member of Clone Force 99 is great, especially Hunter and Crosshair, who both have fantastic character arcs that clash with each other throughout the episode. With the introduction of Omega and some of the best 3D animation Star Wars has ever seen, “Aftermath” cemented itself as one of the best Star Wars premieres.

1 Ezra Joins A Small Band Of Rebels

Star Wars Rebels “Spark of Rebellion”

Coming off the heels of The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels had a lot to prove when it premiered, but “Spark of Rebellion” proved that Star Wars animation was in good hands with Dave Filoni and his crew. Every new character is memorable, there are plenty of standout moments, and the episode brilliantly embodies the tone and fast pacing of the original trilogy. Ezra discovering the Force and seeing the galaxy for the first time makes Star Wars feel new again, even after several decades. The amount of love and dedication put into Star Wars Rebels‘ first episode makes it the best Star Wars series premiere.