Review of the animated series “Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld” / Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld
On May 4, Disney+ launched the third season of the animated short anthology series Star Wars Tales, called “Tales of the Underworld.” Each season focuses on two characters from the iconic universe, and yes, they are not Darth Vader or Han Solo, but still interesting for true Star Wars fans. In this review, we'll remember who we talked about in previous seasons, who the creators, led by Dave Filoni, chose this time, and whether Star Wars continues to be cool in such a compact animated format.
Pros:
moderately interesting stories of two bright characters that better reveal their characters (especially Cad Bane); high-quality branded animation; there are no intrusive manipulations with fan service; pleasant compactness and conciseness;
Cons:
one of the stories may seem more interesting than the other (in this context, fan opinions may be divided), both stories contain a certain set of patterns; there is nothing for beginners here;
The tireless Dave Filoni continues to expand the story arcs of a variety of characters in the animated shorts in the Tales anthology. In the first season of Tale of the Jedi, which was released in 2022, viewers had the opportunity to get acquainted with the backstories of Ahsoka Tano and Count Dooku. The second, titled Tales of the Empire, which was released last year, also on May 4th - the unofficial Star Wars Day - featured Morgan Elsbeth and Barris Offee. And so, in “Tales of the Underworld” (the name is still circulating on the Internet, where “The Underworld” appears), it was Asajj Ventress and Cad Bane’s turn.
As was the case with previous seasons (especially the second), if these names don’t mean anything to you, there’s probably no point in starting to watch an anthology that requires the viewer to know the hardware and, accordingly, numerous nuances.But if you are, as they say, “in the know” and are also familiar with the “Tales” series, then you already have an idea of what to expect from the next adventures in a Galaxy far, far away. In particular, in a given format - 6 episodes lasting approximately 15 minutes, made in a proprietary animation style, 3 for each of the main characters.
The first three episodes are dedicated to Asajj Ventress, a former Padawan who renounced the light side of the Force and joined Count Dooku. She later led the Separatist Alliance's drone army against the Jedi during the Clone Wars. However, Ventress was subsequently betrayed by the Sith Lord and became a bounty hunter. On screen, the character acted exclusively in animated projects: the TV series “The Clone Wars” in 2003, then in the film and TV series of the same name in 2008, as well as in “The Bad Batch.”
To fully understand the picture with which the first episode starts, it would not be amiss to recall the novel “Dark Disciple” by Christie Golden - an adaptation of the scripts written by George Lucas and Dave Filoni for the animated series “The Clone Wars”, released in 2015. Quinlan Vos and Obi-Wan Kenobi quickly flash through the frame, and soon Asajj herself will appear before the viewer. Her further acquaintance with a young Jedi who is being hunted by Imperial stormtroopers will lead to a classic in-universe adventure - with shootouts, quests, travel, lightsaber battles, potential mentorship, etc.
This is a moderately fascinating compact story showing Asajj Ventress's attempts to end her past life and her willingness to lend a helping hand to those in need. Plus, there is a side storyline that conveys a message about how sometimes it is difficult to let go of a war if you have been in it for so long that you can no longer imagine how to live differently.
The second three episodes concern Cad Bane. He is a brutal bounty hunter who works for the highest bidder and an extremely skilled marksman.His first appearance on screens took place in the same “Clone Wars” of 2008, and later the character could be seen in “The Bad Batch.” Unlike Ventress, Bane did not limit himself to participating only in animated projects and appeared in The Book of Boba Fett.
Tales offers the backstory of the ruthless mercenary, from his hungry childhood to the adult version of the red-eyed Duros on camera. Actually, this is nothing more than the path of becoming a villain, made in the spirit of classic westerns, right down to close-ups of the shooters' eyes. It’s hard to call this some kind of discovery; the story is quite formulaic, although not without a certain charm. And for many, Cad Bane himself is a bright enough character not to regret wasting time.
The creators of the third season are stepping on the same rake as in the case of its predecessor about the Jedi - again one arc risks seeming more interesting compared to another (write in the comments which one you liked better), but at the same time I don’t want to make any significant reproaches towards Filoni and the company.
The series more or less maintains the set standard of quality, it is pleasant, short episodes click like seeds, whimsical creatures playfully walk here and there in the frame. Not a bad aperitif for those who plan to binge-watch the second season of Andor, the finale of which will take place next week.