The Star Wars prequel trilogy has many glaring issues weighing it down, but several stories released under Disney have redeemed aspects of the movies. While the Star Wars prequel trilogy’s overall story, themes, and scope have been praised, many fans and critics were less forgiving of the trilogy’s execution, baffled by some of George Lucas’ decisions. However, Star Wars: The Clone Wars expanded the prequel era and told new stories of the trilogy’s various characters, causing viewers to reexamine the movies in a new light. Disney Star Wars has continued this trend, finding clever ways to enhance the prequel trilogy.
The Star Wars movies and TV shows released under Disney have continued plotlines from the prequels, revealing information that adds new context to past events. Several fan-favorite characters have had another chance at the spotlight, as well as ones who didn’t get enough attention or weren’t exceptionally written in the prequels. From the return of actors to additional lore, Disney Star Wars has redeemed the prequel trilogy in seven ways.
The 10 Best Star Wars Stories Set In The Prequel Trilogy Era
The prequel trilogy era is one of the most exciting parts of the Star Wars timeline, filled with countless stories that brilliantly expand the saga.
7 Padme’s Funeral Has Become The Birth Of The Rebellion
Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi
The manner of Padmé Amidala’s death in the Star Wars prequel trilogy has often been ridiculed by fans, as she seemingly dies of a broken heart. However, her tragic funeral has become a defining moment in Disney’s Star Wars canon. The season 1 finale of Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi reveals that Ahsoka Tano secretly attended Padmé’s funeral, where Bail Organa asked her to join the Rebellion. The Star Wars: Darth Vader comic series by Grek Pak also featured several of Padmé’s former allies swearing to avenge her death, making her funeral the honorary beginning of the Rebellion.
6 Revenge Of The Sith’s Padme Deleted Scenes Are Officially Canon
Star Wars: Dawn of the Rebellion
Many of Padmé’s excellent deleted scenes had to be cut from Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, but Disney has made them official canon. Star Wars: Dawn of the Rebellion by Pablo Hidalgo explains that Padmé was a member of the Delegation of Two Thousand, a group of senators who asked Palpatine to cede his emergency powers. This aligns with the Revenge of the Sith‘s deleted scenes and expands Padmé’s story during the film. Other delegation members like Bail Organa and Mon Mothma later founded the Rebel Alliance, further proving that Padmé was its inspiration.
5 Star Wars Has Brought Back Ahmed Best
The Mandalorian
Ahmed Best became suicidal after the overwhelming amount of negative backlash towards Jar Jar Binks, whom he played in all three prequel films and The Clone Wars. Thankfully, many fans have warmed up to the character over time, and Disney Star Wars went a step further by casting Best as Jedi Master Kelleran Beq in the game show Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge. Best reprised the role in The Mandalorian season 3, episode 4 “Chapter 20: The Founding,” revealing Beq as the Jedi who saved Grogu during Order 66 and cementing his character in Star Wars canon.
4 Star Wars Has Explained The Chosen One Prophecy… A Little
Star Wars: Master & Apprentice
The prequels intentionally kept the Chosen One prophecy vague, with some Jedi questioning its validity, but Disney Star Wars has offered a little more clarity. The exact wording of the prophecy in canon was revealed in Star Wars: Master and Apprentice by Claudia Gray:
“A Chosen One shall come, born of no father, and through him will ultimate balance in the Force be restored.”
This clarifies what Qui-Gon Jinn based his assumptions on when he told the Jedi Council that Anakin, a child born of no father, was the Chosen One. Interestingly, the prophecy doesn’t mention that the Chosen One will destroy the Sith, meaning Obi-Wan Kenobi assumed this was what bringing balance meant in Revenge of the Sith.
It also implies that Palpatine’s return in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker doesn’t contradict the prophecy since Anakin didn’t have to destroy the Sith for good. Other Star Wars stories have continued exploring the idea of balance and why it needed to be restored. Star Wars: The High Republic showed a different version of the Jedi Order 200 years before Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, one that inspired hope and defended the light. The Jedi of the prequel era became too detached by comparison, allowing the dark side to rise and throw the Force out of balance.
3 Padmé’s Handmaidens Have Become Characters In Their Own Right
Star Wars: Queen’s Peril and Star Wars: Darth Vader (2020)
Padmé’s handmaidens were background characters and decoys in the prequels, but they have been fleshed out as characters under Disney. Star Wars: Queen’s Peril by E.K. Johnston reveals how Padmé recruited her handmaidens and how they all trained to take her place if necessary. In the Darth Vader comics, the handmaidens tried to kill Vader for Padmé’s murder but later worked with him. This exploration of the handmaidens and how they changed throughout the timeline is one of the most fascinating developments in Disney Star Wars.
2 Hayden Christensen & Ewan McGregor Have Been Embraced
Obi-Wan Kenobi and Ahsoka
Hayden Christensen’s performance as Anakin Skywalker was criticized when the prequels came out, but over time, he and his costar, Ewan McGregor, have been embraced by the Star Wars fandom. Both actors reprised their roles in Obi-Wan Kenobi, while Christensen returned for a guest appearance in Ahsoka. The enthusiastic reaction to their return on Disney+ demonstrates the desire among fans for McGregor and Christensen to return for more Star Wars projects.
1 Anakin Skywalker’s Relationship With Ahsoka Has Underscored The Skywalker Saga’s Tragedy
Ahsoka
The story of Anakin Skywalker is ultimately a tragedy, but Christensen’s return in Ahsoka complements this arc by highlighting Anakin’s redemption. Christensen’s Anakin is far more likable in Ahsoka, taking inspiration from his animated counterpart to convey how he has left Vader behind. This gave Christensen another chance to show how good he was at playing Anakin at his best, ending on a hopeful note and contrasting the tragedy of the Star Wars Skywalker Saga.
