Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures Season 1 Review – Too Much for Too Little

Episode Guide

Episode 20 -| Review Score – 4/5
Episode 21 -| Review Score – 3/5
Episode 22 -| Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 23 -| Review Score – 4/5
Episode 24 -| Review Score – 2.5/5
Episode 25 -| Review Score – 3.5/5

In short…

Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures takes too much time to do too little with its story. While that may be fine for toddlers, Star Wars was never meant for just one demographic. Many Star Wars fans have major issues with what Disney has done to the IP. From the hate for the sequel trilogy to disappointment with Ahsoka, a lot of people harbor intense negativity for something they say they love. The lack of vocal outrage over Young Jedi Adventures, however, is actually very telling, and it’s not because it’s a great show.

A huge chunk of older Star Wars fans probably don’t even know this show exists, or they feel content to simply ignore it. They know it’s not meant for them at some level. If only the fans could apply that grace and awareness to the franchise at large. The historical context of the original film reveals that Star Wars was always aimed at younger audiences, but meant for everyone. That simple truth feels largely forgotten.

Less is more

There are undeniably cool moments and good life lessons sprinkled throughout Young Jedi Adventures. In “The Thieves of Tharnaka,” the Jedi accidentally become pillaging colonizers, attempting to take an artifact from a lost People. A woman believed to be a thief actually helps one of the last remaining Tharnakans reclaim the artifact. The young Jedi feel embarrassed by this, and happily allow the Tharnakan to have it.

The main antagonist of the show, a young pirate named Taborr, turns out to be much more nuanced and complex than he seemed he’d be, showing that those who do evil aren’t necessarily evil people. There are episodes that deal with emotional struggles and bad days as well as how to combat greedy corporate interests.

Unfortunately, the good episodes feel buried. The 50 total stories lack forward momentum. Too many of the episodes feel like slightly altered versions of each other. Simply combining some of the storylines, or connecting them through more than just recurring characters could have done wonders. The final batch of episodes, released February 14th, reduced the amount of filler, and partially learned from its mistakes.

The animation looks consistently good. The little, blue, furry Poobian named Nubs is absolutely adorable. Kai, Lys, and Nash are fine characters. The real question is, why does there have to be Star Wars content just for toddlers? It’s hard to get through Young Jedi Adventures beyond age 10. Younger and older audiences adore the other animated shows. The Clone Wars, Rebels, and The Bad Batch manage to strike the balance of appeal.

Who really owns Star Wars?

For better or worse, Disney has made their mark on Star Wars. However, much has stayed the same. Look at the hate that reigned upon the Prequels when they came out. Now, though, the kids that grew up with them have made their love for those movies clear. Today’s 4-year-olds will likely look back fondly on Young Jedi Adventures as well as the sequel films.

Maybe it is a good idea to create pockets of Star Wars for every age group. Without that model, we may not have gotten Andor, the crown jewel of the older, seething, Disney-hating fanbase. Many, however, would be spared the strange FOMO that comes with the endless onslaught of Star Wars content. This all poses an unanswerable question: How much Star Wars is too much?

It’s inevitable for something as beloved as Star Wars to be bled for all it’s worth. It doesn’t change the fact that Star Wars was originally intended for a broad audience. Broader than the likes of Young Jedi Adventures and Andor. What’s clear is that those who love Star Wars feel they own it, and that’s okay! It’s just sad to see so many fans be so vocal about their hatred for a franchise that is ultimately intended to widen the eyes of 10-year-olds.

Fans want Star Wars to make them feel the way it did as kids- forever. When it fails to deliver, it’s a gut punch, and many respond by tearing Star Wars down. Since its inception, George Lucas intended to use Star Wars to sell toys to kids. Young Jedi Adventures is an extension of that and a reminder that when all of this fanfare starts to feel a bit ridiculous… that’s because it is.

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