Star Wars‘ success of late has been in the realm of TV, with several individual episodes ranking among the best crafted in a galaxy far, far away. In 2019, The Mandalorian kickstarted a wave of Star Wars content on the small screen. The success of The Mandalorian cannot be understated, with the show’s characters, storylines, and themes laying the groundwork for upcoming Star Wars TV shows. The Mandalorian has even proven to impact the franchise beyond TV, with The Mandalorian & Grogu planned to be released in 2026 as the next upcoming Star Wars movie.

Thanks to The Mandalorian, other Star Wars TV projects since 2019 include Ahsoka, The Book of Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Andor. However, it is worth noting that – while The Mandalorian ushered in a period of dominance for live-action Star Wars TV – shows like Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, and Star Wars: The Bad Batch have been around since as early as 2008 where the former is concerned. Across this vast Star Wars TV timeline, 10 episodes can be highlighted as the best ever produced.

10

Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 2, Episode 12

“The Outpost”

Ranking as the 10th best Star Wars TV episode of all time is Star Wars: The Bad Batch season 2, episode 12, “The Outpost.” This episode takes a break from the titular team of Hunter, Wrecker, Tech, and Omega to focus on Crosshair, their brother who abandoned the team for the Empire. “The Outpost” succeeds primarily because it is the culmination of two seasons worth of character development for Crosshair. Throughout the show, Crosshair is faced with making impossible choices on behalf of the Empire, grappling between his loyalty as a soldier and his loyalty to his brothers and sister.

In “The Outpost,” this character arc is complete. The story of the episode centers solely on Crosshair being transported to a desolate ice planet, forced to survive its harsh conditions among other clones, one named Mayday. The episode is beautifully animated as expected, with a foreboding sense of dread elicited from the icy landscape. What makes “The Outpost” special though, is Crosshair’s beliefs finally being called into question by Mayday.

The two narrowly survive the severe conditions of the planet, but an Imperial Lieutenant cares only for his missing cargo. The Lieutenant thus refuses medical care for Mayday, with the clone succumbing to his wounds. Crosshair deciding to shoot the Imperial Lieutenant out of anger is one of the best moments in the entire show, due to how methodically and carefully his turn against the Empire was seeded. This, combined with the dark, self-contained nature of the episode, allows “The Outpost” to stand as the best individual episode of Star Wars: The Bad Batch.

9

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 5, Episode 16

“The Lawless”

The first, and certainly not last, episode from Star Wars: The Clone Wars on this list is season 5, episode 16, “The Lawless.” The episode centers on Obi-Wan Kenobi who is lured to Mandalore by his old enemy Darth Maul to rescue Duchess Satine Kryze. This episode stands among Star Wars‘ best due to the setup of Obi-Wan and Satine’s relationship. With romantic relationships being such a forbidden concept to the Jedi Star Wars prequels, Obi-Wan’s connection to Satine is endlessly compelling. Kenobi and Satine’s relationship was part of 10 prior Clone Wars episodes, supporting why “The Lawless” works so well.

Ironically, it is the end of Obi-Wan and Satine’s relationship that allows “The Lawless” to set itself apart. Maul’s murder of Satine in front of Kenobi is harrowingly dark for Star Wars animation, pushing the boundaries as The Clone Wars often did. What followed was an intense, episode-long action sequence as Kenobi escapes a Mandalore being invaded by Death Watch, and Maul is confronted by his old master, Darth Sidious. The intense emotion offsets the thrill of seeing Sidious in action as he duels Maul and Savage Opress, bringing a stellar installment of The Clone Wars to a close.

8

Star Wars Rebels Season 2, Episode 22

“Twilight of the Apprentice”

The season 2 finale of Star Wars Rebels, “Twilight of the Apprentice,” is one of the most compelling hours of Star Wars ever produced. The episode centers around the exploration of the Sith world Malachor, with Rebels‘ Ezra Bridger, Kanan Jarrus, and former Clone Wars character Ahsoka Tano searching for a secret that can defeat the Sith and thus, the Empire. The secret is a Sith Holocron, with other malevolent forces such as a still-alive Maul and Star Wars’ Imperial Inquisitors searching for it also.

The first half of the episode features Maul’s return, and a journey through the dark of Malachor, making “Twilight of the Apprentice” one of the darkest entries in Star Wars Rebels, both literally and thematically. The second half of “Twilight of the Apprentice” is then filled with some of the greatest, most emotionally compelling action moments in not only Rebels but the entire Star Wars franchise. The team-up between Kanan, Ahsoka, and Maul against the Imperial Inquisitors is fantastic given the former rivalries between the Jedi and the Sith warrior.

When Maul turns on Kanan, however, the darkness seeps back into the episode. Kanan being blinded by Maul, yet defeating him nonetheless solidifies the former as one of Star Wars‘ best characters, while Ahsoka battles against an old acquaintance at the top of Malachor’s temple. The appearance of Darth Vader in the episode is brilliant, heightened by the knowledge that his old apprentice Ahsoka is waiting for him. The two battle, leading Ahsoka to discover Vader’s true identity is Anakin Skywalker.

The blending of James Earl Jones and Matt Lanter – Anakin’s Clone Wars voice actor – for this scene works outstandingly to sell the unrest in Vader seeing his apprentice once more. Complete with fantastic writing in which Vader threatens to kill Ahsoka, the build-up of the relationship that had been around since 2008 came to a head in “Twilight of the Apprentice.” This emotional resonance combines with the action-packed plot of Star Wars Rebels season 2, episode 22, to help it become one of Star Wars‘ best.

7

Andor Season 1, Episode 6

“The Eye”

The first live-action Star Wars episode on this list comes from Andor via season 1, episode 6, “The Eye.” “The Eye” is the conclusion of Andor‘s second arc, focusing on a heist the titular Cassian is undertaking against an Imperial base. This heist is first introduced two episodes prior, meaning the planning, preparation, tension, and team of new characters all come to a thrilling culmination in episode 6.

The biggest strength of “The Eye” lies in its simple plot; the idea of the heist has been built over two episodes, meaning episode 6 has a singular focus that leads to an endless, tense, and exciting hour of Star Wars TV. This heist is set against the backdrop of the titular Eye of Aldhani phenomenon, giving Andor the chance to flex its beautiful cinematography and CGI. The Eye of Aldhani is the celestial event in which thousands of meteors burn up in the planet’s atmosphere, creating a blue, green, and yellow sky which Andor‘s dark heist contrasts gracefully with.

Aside from how good “The Eye” looks, the episode works on a character and story level. The heist naturally has many hiccups, with the prior two-episode build-up causing a sense of tension unlike anything else in the franchise. The stealing of Imperial credits, the firefights that ensue, and the escape flight through the meteor shower are all thrilling. “The Eye” is so exciting that it is lacking emotionally, meaning it cannot rank any higher. That said, the expert craftsmanship is enough to see it come in as the seventh-best Star Wars TV episode ever made.

6

The Mandalorian Season 2, Episode 8

“The Rescue”

The Mandalorian season 2, episode 8, “The Rescue” ranks as the sixth-best Star Wars TV show – and the best in The Mandalorian‘s run – simply because of how purely Star Wars it is. The set-up of the episode did a lot of the heavy lifting emotionally, with the titular Din Djarin’s adopted son Grogu being captured by Imperials, leading to the titular rescue. With so much of the set-up established by the episode before it, “The Rescue” could dive straight into the aerial combat scenes, hand-to-hand fights, brilliant Star Wars team-ups, and cameo-filled surprises.

Seeing the team-up of Din Djarin, Boba Fett, Fennec Shand, Bo-Katan Kryze, and Cara Dune to save Grogu was epic, to say the least. Each character had their own established motivations, strengths, and weaknesses, commending the show’s writing in prior seasons. The fight sequences that followed only built upon the character dynamics, from Bo-Katan, Fennec, and Cara’s storming of an Imperial Star Destroyer’s bridge to Din Djarin facing off against Moff Gideon wielding Star Wars’ Mandalorian Darksaber.

What allows “The Rescue” to be remembered as one of the greatest Star Wars TV episodes ever made, however, is the cameo of Luke Skywalker. Seeing Jedi Master Luke in action was a sight to behold, as he cut down waves of Dark Troopers using his green lightsaber. This led to The Mandalorian season 2’s emotionally resonant finale, in which Grogu leaves to train with Luke. Pedro Pascal is fantastic in this sequence, with the grief and sadness at his son leaving pouring out in a great performance.

5

Star Wars Rebels Season 4, Episode 10

“Jedi Night”

The mid-season finale of Star Wars Rebels season 4, episode 10 is the second-best in the show, and the fifth-best Star Wars TV episode ever produced. It centers around Kanan Jarrus embarking on a mission to save Hera Syndulla, his lover and long-time companion, from the clutches of the Empire. The episode is fairly simple in that it is a rescue mission, with a fun and breezy first half in which Kanan and Hera’s relationship receives a much-welcome spotlight. That said, it is the latter half of “Jedi Night” that allows it to rank so highly as a Star Wars TV installment.

As Hera, Kanan, and the other Rebels crew escape, an explosion threatens their lives. Kanan uses the Force to hold off the explosion in an unbelievably beautiful scene. The orange fire surrounding Kanan being pushed back by the blue of the Force is gorgeously realized, with an orchestral, melancholic score overlaid by the ever-brilliant Kevin Kiner. As Kanan uses the Force to push Hera away from the explosion, the mystical energy field returns his sight so that he can see his love, one last time, before pushing her ship away from the fire and sacrificing himself.

This scene ranks among one of the most emotional in the entire franchise. Not only does it mark a satisfying albeit heartbreaking conclusion of Kanan’s arc as it comes after Hera admits her love for him, but it signifies what it means to be a Jedi. Kanan uses the Force for defense, shielding his loved ones from the explosion before giving his own life and becoming one with the Cosmic Force. This ending alone allows “Jedi Night” to rank above many other Star Wars TV shows, even if the first half telegraphs Kanan’s death through its screenwriting.

4

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 7, Episode 12

“Victory and Death”

All four episodes of the final arc of Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 7 could have made this list as the best Star Wars TV episodes, but episode 12 stands out. As the culmination of The Clone Wars, the episode simply works in every conceivable way. It picks up with Ahsoka trying to survive Star Wars’ Order 66 and instantly turns on the emotion with her and Rex tearfully mulling over having to kill their comrades and friends. This, combined with the action of Ahsoka, Rex, and Maul fighting to survive, immediately combines excitement with an overarching sense of dread.

The final sequence is also a fantastic close to a beloved show. With Ahsoka and Rex burying their comrades, their journeys are sorrowfully ended, beautifully animated, and hopefully left off for future stories like Star Wars Rebels. With the final shot being Vader finding Ahsoka’s lightsaber, “Victory and Death” works not only as a contained ending but also in context with other Star Wars stories involving the two. As an ending to one show, the beginning of more, and the blending of two eras of the Star Wars timeline, The Clone Wars’ finale gains top marks across the board.

3

Andor Season 1, Episode 10

“One Way Out”

If Andor‘s “The Eye” was a barometer of the show’s high quality, episode 10, “One Way Out,” somehow surpasses it. “One Way Out” is the final episode in Andor‘s third arc, which culminates in a prison break. Andor episode 10 shares all the benefits of episode 6, from the previous episodes’ set up of this arc’s story, characters, and endgame, allowing the episode in question to be an explosion of action, tension, drama, emotion, and franchise-best screenwriting.

It stands as a testament to Andor‘s screenwriting quality that the climactic action sequences are not the best aspect of the episode. Instead, it is the monologs of Andy Serkis’ Kino Loy and Stellan Skarsgård’s Luthen Rael that allow “One Way Out” to shine. Both speeches, especially the latter, are some of the finest pieces of screenwriting in the entire franchise. Where Kino’s speech amps up excitement and tension in both the audience and Andor‘s prisoners to escape, Luthen sums up the morally gray nature of his character while typifying Star Wars’ central themes of rebelling against oppression.

What allows “One Way Out” to surpass “The Eye,” and several other Star Wars TV episodes, is how these monologs and the climactic prison break dial up the emotional weight of the story. Kino pushing everyone to rise up against the Empire is only made more exciting, tragic, and heartbreaking by his own inability to escape. Never has a one-off Star Wars character captured hearts like Kino Loy, summing up how perfectly Andor presents its characters, with episode 10, “One Way Out” doing this the best in the entire show.

2

Star Wars Rebels Season 3, Episode 20

“Twin Suns”

Like “Jedi Night,” Star Wars Rebels season 3, episode 20, “Twin Suns,” is more simple than aforementioned episodes like “The Eye” or “Victory and Death.” However, it is the beautiful subtlety with which the episode pays off an almost 20-year-old Star Wars arc that ranks it in the top three Star Wars TV episodes ever. The episode sees Ezra Bridger and Maul travel separately to Tatooine, as the Sith Holocron from “Twilight of the Apprentice” tells both that the key to destroying the Sith lies on the desert planet.

This naturally leads them to an elderly Obi-Wan Kenobi, meaning “Twin Suns” delivers an intoxicating dose of fan service. That said, it is the handling of Maul and Kenobi’s confrontation in which “Twin Suns” excels. The dialog between Maul and Kenobi is written to perfection and performed brilliantly by Stephen Stanton and Sam Witwer respectively. The back-and-forth between the two in the dim light of a fireplace in Tatooine’s desert is just as striking visually as it is compelling to hear how both characters have evolved – or devolved – since they last met.

When the duel between Maul and Kenobi happens, it is the restraint of “Twin Suns” not to feature a flashy, overly-choreographed battle that ranks it among Star Wars’ best TV episodes. The fight matches the samurai influence of Star Wars closer than any other project to date, with a standoff accompanied by another beautiful score by Kevin Kiner. Kenobi’s switching stances and Maul’s unhinged nature lead the former to dispatch the latter in only three moves, calling back to the Duel of the Fates. All of this is perfectly executed, marking “Twin Suns” as a simply stunning episode.

1

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 7, Episode 10

“The Phantom Apprentice”

With four previous episode appearances on this list, it seems Maul holds the key to crafting a brilliant Star Wars TV episode. The best of the bunch, and the best episode in the franchise, is Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 7, episode 10, “The Phantom Apprentice.” This episode sees Ahsoka confronting Maul in her quest to free Mandalore, two episodes before both are caught up in Order 66 in “Victory and Death.” Bo-Katan’s exploits to free Mandalore are exciting in their own right, but it is Maul and Ahsoka’s conversation and lightsaber duel that makes “The Phantom Apprentice” peak Star Wars.

Like Kenobi and Maul’s conversation in “Twin Suns,” the back-and-forth between Maul and Ahsoka is exceptionally written. The impact their conversation has on the wider Star Wars franchise is massive, with Maul telling Ahsoka of Sidious’ plans for Anakin all while hinting at the impending Order 66. The conversation is chillingly delivered by Sam Witwer once more, with Ahsoka voice actor Ashley Eckstein matching him. Watching Ahsoka come so close to the truth about Sidious and Anakin before pulling back due to her distrust of Maul is frustrating, though this frustration makes for excellent, tension-fuelled drama.

The lightsaber fight that follows is not only one of the best in The Clone Wars but one of the best in Star Wars. Where hundreds of other episodes of The Clone Wars had lightsaber fights that were engaging, the CGI animation made them feel weightless, with no real sense of expert choreography, including “The Lawless.” “The Phantom Apprentice” removed this by having Lauren Mary Kim and original Maul actor Ray Park perform motion capture. The fight is thus much more fluid, thrillingly choreographed, and beautifully animated than any other in The Clone Wars.

With this lightsaber battle rounding off the episode, “The Phantom Apprentice” has everything any Star Wars fan could want; it has brilliant characters entering philosophical conversations voiced by veteran actors, franchise-best action sequences, ties to the larger Star Wars universe, a foreboding sense of dread, brilliant music from Kevin Kiner, and some of the highest animation quality ever put on screen. All of this combines to mark “The Phantom Apprentice” as a Star Wars TV episode without a single flaw, and still the best a galaxy far, far away has ever produced.