Star Wars: Tales of the Empire (Disney+) review: A fantastic tale of revenge and redemption

Note: This review was first published on 5 May 2024.

Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi was the surprise Star Wars sleeper hit of 2022 for me, a bite-size animated series made of up six episodes (each about 15-ish minutes) that focused on the backstories of Count Dooku and Ahsoka. Fast forward to today May the 4th, and Disney+ has released the follow-up Star Wars: Tales of the Empire, this time focusing on Morgan Elsbeth and Barriss Offee. Morgan's tale is a well-documented journey through darkness. First introduced as a formidable foe to Ahsoka in The Mandalorian (season 2, episode 5), she rose to prominence as a central antagonist in Ahsoka’s own live-action series.

Hailing from the remnants of the Nightsisters of Dathomir, Morgan forged an alliance with Grand Admiral Thrawn (who also made his first live-action appearance in Ahsoka), displaying unwavering loyalty even in the face of sacrificing herself to aid his escape alongside the Great Mothers on Peridea. If you are curious what kind of hold Thrawn has over Morgan in that series, then the first three episodes in Tales of Empire reveal it all.

Spanning over three decades, the episodes delve deep into Elsbeth's tumultuous journey – from the tragic loss of her family on Dathomir to her fateful rendezvous with Thrawn, culminating in the era of the New Republic just prior to her clash with Ahsoka. It unveils Morgan's underlying motivations, shedding light on her readiness to sacrifice herself for the return of the Great Mothers to their ancestral galaxy. Her harrowing encounter with General Grievous during her youth (Editor’s note: a campaign to eradicate the Nightsisters featured prominently in The Clone Wars animated series) will surely have evoked a sense of sympathy from some viewers and also serves as a crucial juncture that propels her towards a path of retribution, and how she became involved with the Empire in the first place.

Interwoven with Morgan's story is the compelling tale of Barriss Offee post-Order 66 and her eventual self-redemption. Barriss is a key figure in the later seasons of The Clone Wars, and her ultimate fate subsequent to her incarceration for crimes against the Republic remained unresolved in Star Wars canon – that is, until Tales of the Empire.

The second part of Tales of the Empire is as much about Lyn as it is about Barriss, with the former remaining a constant presence throughout Barriss’ narrative, and extending well into approximately 1 BBY, where the Fourth Sister emerges as a formidable adversary for the former Padawan of Luminara Unduli. While Barriss’ tale, much like Morgan's, may not be pivotal for a comprehensive understanding of the expansive Star Wars universe, it reveals fascinating insights to the fates of former Jedi after the fall of the Republic.

Anyone familiar with Star Wars lore knows that the Jedi were eventually brought down by their own hubris at the end of Revenge of the Sith. So in Tales of Empire, I found it interesting that Barriss, despite her disillusionment with the Order's evolution, did not completely abandon her Jedi core tenets nor condemn herself to the clutches of the Dark Side completely. Ironically, Barriss trajectory bears semblance to that of Asajj Ventress, whom she once impersonated in her quest to undermine Ahsoka and the Jedi (really, you should watch The Clone Wars if you have not). Through Barriss’ arc, series’ creator Dave Filoni’s interest in exploring a far wider view of the Force and the overall saga’s show of redemption really shines through.

Much like Tales of the Jedi, Tales of the Empire delivers a fascinating narrative experience that expands upon the rich lore of the Star Wars universe. Through the journeys of Morgan Elsbeth and Barriss Offee, the series offers insightful explorations into themes of redemption, betrayal, and the complexities of the Force. With its engaging storytelling and visually striking presentation, Tales of the Empire proves to be both captivating and entertaining, making it a must-watch addition to the Star Wars television series.

Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi and Tales of the Empire is available for streaming on Disney+ now.

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