“Star Wars” is without question one of the most time-tested franchises, as it’s a series that seems to find new life, and new fans with each decade. Among its many strengths, I think one of the main appeals of “Star Wars” is that it’s universal for all ages. It’s one of those unique franchises that connects just as much to little kids as it does adults, and I think that’s one of the main reasons why it continues to grow and thrive over the years. In some cases, it’s quiet literal, as aside from the movies, there are various TV shows that aim for specific age demographics, and yet, each of these shows still fit, and belong under the same roof.
The more adult programs include shows like “The Clone Wars” or “The Mandalorian”, while the more child-friendly shows come in the form of the 80’s “Droids” and “Ewoks” cartoons. It makes the “Star Wars” franchises one of my most favorites to explore, as I love the different peaks, valley’s, styles, and tones of each individual installment. After coming off the high of two powerhouse animated programs like “The Clone Wars” and “Rebels”, I genuinely wanted the franchise to balance out with something lighter, more simplistic, and aimed at children, as I felt it was time for a new generation of little kids to grow-up with something special in the franchise … kind of like how the kids did back in the 80’s. My hopes were almost granted with the primer of a new animated TV series in 2018 titled “Star Wars Resistance”. This was an odd case in which I felt a “Star Wars” program was both a little better and a little worse than I initially expected. Do the negatives out-way the positives … lets take a closer look and find out.
The more adult programs include shows like “The Clone Wars” or “The Mandalorian”, while the more child-friendly shows come in the form of the 80’s “Droids” and “Ewoks” cartoons. It makes the “Star Wars” franchises one of my most favorites to explore, as I love the different peaks, valley’s, styles, and tones of each individual installment. After coming off the high of two powerhouse animated programs like “The Clone Wars” and “Rebels”, I genuinely wanted the franchise to balance out with something lighter, more simplistic, and aimed at children, as I felt it was time for a new generation of little kids to grow-up with something special in the franchise … kind of like how the kids did back in the 80’s. My hopes were almost granted with the primer of a new animated TV series in 2018 titled “Star Wars Resistance”. This was an odd case in which I felt a “Star Wars” program was both a little better and a little worse than I initially expected. Do the negatives out-way the positives … lets take a closer look and find out.
The series is set six months before the events of the movie “The Force Awakens”, but as it goes on, the episodes begin to weave in and around the events of the first two movies of the sequel trilogy. The show begins with a two-part episode titled "The Recruit", and at this point of the show, there’s no galactic war, but the newly formed First Order is raising some alarming concerns, and a young spy named Kaz is sent on a mission to report on their activities. His assignment leads him to an aircraft refueling station called The Colossus, which is on the ocean planet of Castilon. Kaz's mission is to pose as a shop mechanic, while getting to know everyone at this haven for the galaxy's best pilots, and learn who might potentially be working with the First Order. While on the station, he makes new friends, and finds an opportunity to fulfill his biggest dream … to become an ACE Racer.
Unlike the previous TV shows, with their layered story arc’s, deep character development, and exciting plot twists, this series takes a relatively simple “life and times” approach. Every now and then, something exciting would happen, like a monster or other outside forces attacking the station, but that wasn't always the drive. Tuning in to a new episode was like catching another day in the life of the “Star Wars” universe while on this station, and the show is paced just as such. On the one hand … I absolutely prefer bigger stories, with gripping, wall to wall excitement, and rich character growth. Yet, there was something refreshing about a show that wasn’t trying to impress, and was content to invite its viewers to something simple.
Unlike the previous TV shows, with their layered story arc’s, deep character development, and exciting plot twists, this series takes a relatively simple “life and times” approach. Every now and then, something exciting would happen, like a monster or other outside forces attacking the station, but that wasn't always the drive. Tuning in to a new episode was like catching another day in the life of the “Star Wars” universe while on this station, and the show is paced just as such. On the one hand … I absolutely prefer bigger stories, with gripping, wall to wall excitement, and rich character growth. Yet, there was something refreshing about a show that wasn’t trying to impress, and was content to invite its viewers to something simple.
As an adult, I found myself admiring the shows life and times atmosphere and tone … but then a thought struck me. Would I have enjoyed watching this show back when I was a little kid … the target audience this was aimed at? After giving it some thought, the honest answer is … I think I would have been really board or disinterested in this series. That’s when the most surreal thing happened to me ... I found myself appreciating this obvious children’s program more as an adult then I would have if I was a little kid. I think the “Star Wars” cartoons of the 80’s stood out more as it was a relatively simple time … but animated children’s programming has come such a long way sense then, to the point where current shows really need to do something out of the box to stand out. While this show really wasn’t bad at all, it just didn’t have a special voice to make itself stand out in a positive … or at the very least … interesting way. The stakes are certainly raised in the second season, as we see our heroes constantly on the run from the First Order, and there's a growing sense of adventure … but stories are still very episodic, and simple in narrative.
The animation and art style on display was certainly unique, and different from anything else that came before it … but I can also see the look of the show effecting viewers differently. Previous shows like “Star Wars: The Clones Wars” might have been animated, but it also had a really mature and adult presentation on display. “Resistance” by contrast definitely has a look and design that’s meant to appeal to little kids, with a simplistic aesthetic, and a relentlessly cheerful color-pallet. Personally, I do find that the animation has a charm on some level, as it is exceptionally unique … but I will admit, it’s certainly not my favorite display of an animated art-style.
However, if I was a little kid watching this, I think the big thing that would have turned me off personally … beyond the visuals and simple premise … would have been the characters. The line-up of players in “Resistance” were by no-means … awful … but they lacked a certain appeal that would have grabbed my interest back when I was a kid. By contrast, there were contemporary animated Disney programs that aired around the same time, including “The Lion Guard” and “Rapunzel's Tangled Adventures”, each of which have distinct groups of both heroes and villains that I know I would have loved, and adored if I had grown up with any of those shows as a kid. It’s not something I can explain, it’s really just something I feel … but perhaps a closer look at the characters of “Star Wars Resistance” is called for.
However, if I was a little kid watching this, I think the big thing that would have turned me off personally … beyond the visuals and simple premise … would have been the characters. The line-up of players in “Resistance” were by no-means … awful … but they lacked a certain appeal that would have grabbed my interest back when I was a kid. By contrast, there were contemporary animated Disney programs that aired around the same time, including “The Lion Guard” and “Rapunzel's Tangled Adventures”, each of which have distinct groups of both heroes and villains that I know I would have loved, and adored if I had grown up with any of those shows as a kid. It’s not something I can explain, it’s really just something I feel … but perhaps a closer look at the characters of “Star Wars Resistance” is called for.
Kaz (voiced by Christopher Sean)
Once again, we have another animated “Star Wars” TV show in which the main hero is also the comedic goofball. Although, to the credit of Ezra from “Star Wars Rebels”, he was never … this idiotic. I’ll give the character of Kaz credit for at least having a big heart, selfless determination, and even established character motivations, but more often than not he just comes off like a clumsy goof. He's almost a little too quirky, but voice actor Christopher Sean at least lends some charm and charisma to the character. My biggest issue with Kaz is that, despite being the most prominent character on the show, he really didn’t have much of a personal journey. The Kaz we see at the end of the show really isn’t all that different from who he was at the start, and all the best main “Star Wars” characters have a day and night difference between where their stories begin and end.
Tam (voiced by Suzie McGrath)
By contrast, the most layered character of the show comes in the form of a young mechanic named Tam, who starts off as a reluctant repair partner to Kaz, gradually forms a friendship with him, yet eventually turns on him in favor of service to the First Order. In essence, she goes on a personal journey of where she belongs, and contemplates what’s truly right for the galaxy at large. While the character was underutilized in the first season, she really fond her footing in season two, and became one of the more interesting characters to watch, as she had her own personal conflicts, and we didn’t always know where her real loyalties lied.
Neeku (voiced by Josh Brener)
Aside from our main lead, we have a straight forward comedic side-kick named Neeku, who’s an aquodic alien with a big brain for analyzing things, yet is incredibly clueless when it comes to everything else. It makes for a fun dynamic, and the character isn’t without his funny moments. Unfortunately for me, he tended to annoy me just as often as I found him charming, so I really can’t decide if the character worked for me or not.
Torra (voiced by Myrna Velasco)
With a team of racers on the platform, Kaz is eager to join their group, but first he has to test his metal against the un-beaten champion … a young girl named Torra … who just happens to be the daughter of the stations Captain. Both Kaz and Torra share the same love for racing, and they’re the only ones who can connect … as not too many others are their age. Torra becomes Kaz’s figurative sister, and I think they share some of the best chemistry of all the show’s players. Also, Torra manages to stand out with her own signature brand of being ridiculously cute.
Jarek Yeager (voiced by Scott Lawrence)
Watching over these young kids is a former Rebel officer named Jarek Yeager, who’s the only one who initially knows of Kaz’s secret mission. This character had all the potential to be my favorite of the whole show, as he’s got a deep back story, a personal struggle in which he has to face his own demons, and Scott Lawrence delivers a solid vocal performance. Unfortunately, he’s just not utilized in the show enough to leave an impression. It’s as if the writers were afraid to put to-much focus on a character who wasn’t a young person. Half the time I found myself forgetting about him, that is until he would finally show-up, and give me a sign that he could have been really great if he got more attention.
Captain Imanuel Doza (Voiced by Jason Hightower)
On the flip side, the stations proud Captain Doza is actually a very compelling character in his own simple way. During the days of the Empire, he was a decorated officer, but he defected just prior to their loss at the battle of Endor. Now he’s a seasoned man who’s just trying to do what’s best for his people. Without exploring too much detail, you get the sense that this is a seasoned man, governed by his faults and experience’s, and there’s just this humbleness to the guy that makes him a warm presence. He also makes for a very loving father, and his relation with his daughter Torra is genuinely sweet.
Synara (voiced by Nazneen Contractor)
At last, my personal favorite character of the show by far is a pirate named Synara. She initially set herself up as a victim of an unfortunate accident, when in reality, she’s a mole working for a band of pirates. However, the longer she stays on the station, the closer she gets to our young hero’s, and as you’d expect … she ends up finding favor with a new family … as opposed to pirates who only cared for her skills. While Synara never officially became a main character, she made more appearances than any other reoccurring character, had a presence that was more exciting then any one else, and a story that honestly felt more layered and compelling then the majority of the main cast. This character is likewise brimming with personality, has a sexy voice, and I think actress Nazneen Contractor delivers the sharpest performance of them all.
Pirates and the First Order
Returning “Star Wars” Characters
The show ran for two seasons and had a total of forty episodes, along with twelve shorts. While “Star Wars Resistance” never offered anything too demanding, it at least had some select highlight along the way that made me happy enough to watch the show once. So, if your curious to cherry-pick any episodes from this series, here is a countdown of my own personal ten favorite episodes from the show.
#10 "Hunt on Celsor 3" (S2: Episode 25)
#9 "A Quick Salvage Run" (S2: Episode 22)
#8 "Secrets and Holograms" (S1: Episode 10)
#7 "No Place Safe" (S2: Episode 37)
#6 "The Engineer" (S2: Episode 26)
#5 "Station Theta Black" (S1: Episode 11)
#4 "The Doza Dilemma" (S1: Episode 14)
#3 “The Escape” (S2: Episodes 39 & 40)
Oh, and speaking of villains, this finale also marked the only appearance of Kylo Ren in the shows run, and while not voiced by Adam Driver, he’s at least voiced by known “Star Wars” talent Matthew Wood, who’s been the voice of General Grievous sense “Revenge of the Sith”. While Kylo Ren’s appearance is little more than a cameo, it still made for one of the characters more intimidating scenes. In the end, it’s satisfying to see everyone back together, and it made for a fine little sendoff for an okay little show.
#2 "The Missing Agent" & "Breakout" (S2: Episodes 33 & 34)
This guy is awesome, the voice is chilling, he has a signature weapon, his design is like something from out of “World of Warcraft”, and he’s the first villain in the show to really challenge our hero’s. In general, the action in this show is not very impressive, but thanks to this villain, it marked a special case in which the action felt like it had urgency, and it felt white knuckled. This episode also wasn’t afraid to have some darker moments, like seeing our main leads tortured. Obviously, nothing new by “Star Wars” standards, but for this shows target audience, I was impressed with what was on display. With its tense fight scenes, and note-worthy villain, I’d honestly recommend the casual “Star Wars” viewer to give this episode pairing a watch.
Before I reveal my #1 favorite, here are some quick Honorable Mentions ...
"Synara's Score"
"The Relic Raiders"
"The Disappeared"
"The Children from Tehar"
#1 “No Escape” (S1: Episodes 20 &21)
What episode could possibly be stronger than the series finale … how about the season 1 finale. I put this one a peg above it’s successor, because it had to meet the challenge of stirring interest in a second season, following after an admittedly mediocre first season. Thankfully, this season finale succeeded, and in my view provided the most exciting content of the whole show. At this point, the First Order were just really strict security personal, but this was the game changing event when the villains overstep their bounds, show their true hostile intents, and the citizens begin to rebel against them. This also marks the point when Kaz’s close friend Tam turns on our hero’s in favor of the First Order, and what they stand for.
Finally, I mentioned before the novelty of seeing events from the movies from a different perspective … and this episode arguably has the most impact-full of them all. We see General Hux’s speech and the destruction of the Hosnian System by Star Killer Base, which are events lifted from “The Force Awakens”. This time it’s seen from the perspective of our hero’s, who all have families on those planets. Suddenly, that one minor scene from the movie feels all the more tragic and larger in scale. In the end, Kaz and team manage to free the Colossus from First Order occupation, and after a climactic battle are hurled into the unknown reaches of the galaxy. Despite all the shows short-comings, this season finale admittedly got me excited to see where things were going, and it made me return for its final season with a genuine interest. For that reason, this two-part season finale stands as my personal favorite of what “Star Wars Resistance” had to offer.
In the end, "Resistance" lacked the griping stories, exciting battles and menacing villains from previous "Star Wars" TV shows, but it at least compensated with a refreshingly simple premise, a multilayered setting, a unique art style, and it featured some genuinely down to earth characters. Unfortunately, for as much as I try to talk positive about the show, it was still unmistakably a series that simply came and left, with no real staying power. I did admire the effort to give little kids a show of their own, but even in that context … I’ve seen more credible programs to share with children. It really wasn’t even a series that fans were asking for, and it certainly didn’t leave an impact the same way both “The Clone Wars” and “Rebels” did. Still, with all that said, I’d like to plead that this wasn’t a terrible show, by any means. It certainly isn’t a show that I’ll be taking home, but it's still fine for all it aims to be. Maybe it’s for the best to have an okay “Star Wars” program once in a while, as it can make us appreciate the superior shows that preceded it, and the ones to follow after. Not a great animated "Star Wars" program, but an inoffensive and passable one all the same.
Thanks for reading my review of the 2018 TV series "Star Wars Resistance" ... and continue to enjoy the shows you love.
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