As Lucasfilm continues to expand its universe with flagship projects such as the highly anticipated Maul: Shadow Lord and the returning Star Wars: Visions Season 3, they simultaneously offer a delightful experience for Star Wars enthusiasts through their Tales of series. This captivating approach initiated with Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi, which explored the intriguing backstory of Count Dooku (Corey Burton) and highlighted pivotal events in the journey of Ahsoka Tano (Ashley Eckstein). The series took a creative turn with Star Wars: Tales of the Empire, which not only served as a prologue for the antagonist Morgan Elsbeth (Diana Lee Inosanto) but also revisited the narrative of the disgraced Clone Wars hero Barriss Offee (Meredith Salenger).

Lucasfilm is now set to achieve a trifecta with the latest anthology, Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld. This series casts a spotlight on two of the most morally ambiguous figures in Star Wars animation — the former Sith assassin Asajj Ventress (Nika Futterman) and the relentless bounty hunter Cad Bane (Corey Burton). Like its predecessors, Tales of the Underworld provides a brilliant platform to delve deeper into the stories of beloved characters through concise narratives. However, it’s worth noting that there are aspects of the series format that could use refinement to better develop these complex characters.

Discover the Engaging Narrative of ‘Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld’

Much like Tales of the Empire, the new series Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld presents two unique stories, comprising a prologue and an epilogue. The first story opens with Asajj Ventress, who miraculously survives an encounter with death at the end of the Clone Wars. She must navigate a perilous future under the Empire’s rule while forming an unexpected alliance with a young Jedi. The second part of the season unravels the origin story of Cad Bane, detailing his transformation from an innocent street child to the ruthless killer we recognize today, ultimately creating a conflict with his childhood best friend.

The choice to feature Ventress and Bane as the central characters in Tales of the Underworld is undoubtedly compelling. Both characters garnered immense popularity following their appearances in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, with Ventress’ narrative even predating this series thanks to Genndy Tartakovsky‘s Clone Wars micro-series. There are numerous points within the expansive Star Wars timeline that allow for further exploration of their stories. While the show introduces some fascinating new dimensions to the arcs of Ventress and Bane, there are also some narrative challenges that arise throughout the episodes.

The series kicks off on a strong note with Ventress’ initial episode. Not only does Futterman deliver a voice performance brimming with captivating charisma, but it’s also thrilling to witness this now-iconic Force-wielder confront Imperial Stormtroopers, depicted beautifully in the Clone Wars art style, along with an impressively designed Sith Inquisitor. This opening scene encapsulates the essence of classic Star Wars, although it may also mark the peak of Ventress’ storyline quite early in the series.

The remaining episodes, however, feel more like ancillary material that does not significantly advance Ventress’ character arc. Additionally, her reluctant mentorship of a new student seems repetitive, especially since she previously took on a similar role with Omega (Michelle Ang) in The Bad Batch — where she collaborated with a character that was already well-developed. It’s unfortunate because the opening scene of the premiere addresses a crucial question that fans have pondered since Ventress’ introduction in The Bad Batch, yet it fails to explore this further, opting instead for a mediocre heist narrative and a directionless episode reminiscent of “Great Divide.”

Evaluating the Necessity of Cad Bane’s Prologue in ‘Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld’

Cad Bane’s narrative arc in the series is executed with greater finesse. His three-part story features a well-structured three-act format, chronicling his evolution from a young boy to a reckless young adult, ultimately transforming into the cold-blooded gunslinger familiar to fans. Inspired by the classic Western archetype, particularly characters like Sentenza (Lee Van Cleef) from The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Bane’s storyline deeply resonates with Western themes. While the brother-versus-brother conflict may not be groundbreaking, particularly after the recent re-release of Revenge of the Sith, it does provide Bane with a touch of humanity. The final episode hints at significant implications while wisely choosing to leave certain elements ambiguous.

Bane’s journey undoubtedly stands out as the most compelling of the two narratives presented in Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld. However, it raises a pertinent question — does this story genuinely need to be told? Cad Bane has always thrived on an air of mystery and intrigue surrounding his character. While this series offers an interesting new perspective on his backstory, it also prompts a larger discussion about whether every character in the vast Star Wars galaxy deserves their own spin-off narrative.

‘Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld’ Maintains Consistency in Storytelling, for Better or Worse

In many respects, Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld maintains a level of consistency with the flagship series it builds upon. Cad Bane’s storyline is rich with the powerful character moments and emotional depth that Dave Filoni‘s animated Star Wars shows are celebrated for. Conversely, Asajj Ventress’ segments are marred by the same filler content that often plagues the franchise.

The brief episode format also invites reconsideration for future seasons, as a singular 45-minute special akin to the exceptional Werewolf by Night or the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special could deliver a more focused narrative experience. Nevertheless, Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld remains a gratifying detour through the galaxy, offering fans additional content centered on two beloved characters.

Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld is currently available for streaming on Disney+.