Top 10 Moments Of 'Star Wars'

Star Wars

Aug 20

The Star Wars universe has come a long way since the Battle of Endor. The original trilogy might have provided plenty of great moments, but in the time since, there has been plenty more across the prequel trilogy, games, TV series, and sequel trilogy. And a whole lot more when considering printed media. So many that everyone’s top ten will be very different.

For me, the best moments are those I can really see the world building for. See the premise and the concept, and even if the execution is lacking, appreciate what it adds to the universe. And of course, I love a bit of spectacle. For this top ten of best moments, I’m keeping to screen media. Only one moment to come from a piece of media. That allows me to cast the net across many Star Wars films, series, and games. And so, to start…

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10. The Galaxy Fights Back – 'The Rise Of Skywalker'

Each trilogy of the Skywalker Saga has a great final climax that brings a major change to the galaxy. Revenge of the Sith sees the Empire reign upon the failure of the Jedi to stop the Sith from taking control. Return of the Jedi sees the Empire defeated by a small band of resistance fighters hoping to free the galaxy. The Rise of Skywalker again sees a battle between resistance fighters against an oppressive ruling faction of the galaxy, but this time there’s one additional factor to love it for. This time, the entire galaxy is fighting back.

In a critical moment when all seems lost, Lando and an entire armada of ships arrive at Exegol to provide Poe and the resistance fighters a whole lot of backup. Opinions might be very varied on the finale of The Rise of Skywalker and, in fact, the film as a whole. I’ve certainly had things to say about it, but there’s something to be said for that sweeping camera movement as Poe rounds the Star Destroyer in his X-Wing to see the sky full of so many ships. It is a moment of pure joy to see.

9. The Return of Boba Fett – 'The Mandalorian'

In the first season of The Mandalorian, Din Djarin accepts a contract to deal with notorious assassin Fennec Shand. The ending shot shows a hooded man checking on her. When that hood is removed, Temuera Morrison’s face shows that this is Boba Fett. He survived! But when would he get to action? In season two, Djarin does a favour for a marshal on Tatooine. A marshal who wears the familiar armour of Boba Fett. Pieces were lining up, it was just a case of when. Later in the season, on Tython, Djarin is waiting for Grogu to make contact with a Jedi when that familiar ship comes in for a landing. Sure enough, Boba Fett was flying, with Fennec Shand as a partner. And he wants his armour.

Though Djarin refuses, the Imperials are soon making their presence known as a fight ensues. In the chaos, Fett sees his opportunity to slip away to the Razor Crest. When next we see him, he’s jetting down to a concussed Stormtrooper, throwing one heck of a punch to knock that trooper down, then blasting them to make sure they stay down. After that, Fett dispatches troopers so easily they quickly retreat. Seeing Boba Fett show what he is truly capable of is such a fantastic moment that answers the dreams of anyone who first saw the original Mandalorian in The Empire Strikes Back.

8. Podracing – 'The Phantom Menace'

Podracing. Very fast. Very dangerous. Stranded on Tatooine, Qui-Gon, Padmé, Jar Jar, and R2-D2 come into contact with Anakin Skywalker, who describes his control of a podracer to them during a meal they share in his household during the sandstorm. Qui-Gon is quick to see the potential Force ability Skywalker possesses. After all, he’s the only human who can do it. And when the lineup of racers is revealed on the day, there are so many varied aliens in so many unique racers that Skywalker seems even smaller in comparison.

But he is in tune with his instincts, with the Force, and wins the race. A race that is full of action. A race that captures the speed, the danger, and just how much a certain Dug cheats perfectly. There could have been many other ways to show how in tune with the Force young Skywalker was, but I am so glad The Phantom Menace did so via a racing competition. It was yet another expansion of this galaxy far, far away that had little to do with war, and opened the door to so many other racing disciplines to be created and explored. Even if such has yet to seriously happen.

7. The Corruption Of The Dark – 'Tales Of The Empire'

Now, many stories are showing the dark side as corrupting. The most obvious is with Anakin Skywalker. But, considering I much prefer how the Revenge of the Sith novelisation details that final push than the film, I’m going for a different story showing the corruption of the dark. One that’s not about a Jedi fall. Morgan Elsbeth loses everything in the droid attack of Dathomir. Grievous and the assault in Tales of the Empire is shown to be devastating. It’s a great display of how unfeeling the droids are in the massacre versus the pain of loss each Nightsister carries.

For Elsbeth in particular, she feels it too much. As seen later on in the episode where she wants revenge against the droid army. And it is towards the end of this episode that my favourite moment comes. Her actions caused more loss, but this time it hit differently. She was the cause of it. And she has to watch a mother take that body in her hands and mourn that loss. Such does not temper the darkness with her. That final shot of Elsbeth perfectly reflects that. Outside, she looks lost. Uncertain. But the burning wreckage behind shows the passion of vengeance soon to be unleashed upon the galaxy.

6. Indifference Of The New Republic – 'Ahsoka'

One of the best things about The Mandalorian and the shows that exist alongside it is seeing the New Republic in action. Seeing the failings of that New Republic when it came to taking action against a threat they thought no longer held power. Across The Mandalorian, the refusal to take action against the Imperial remnants sees some exploration. But some loyal to the Empire are doing what they can to slow New Republic processes. Then comes Ahsoka, where Hera Syndulla meets with several senators and Chancellor Mon Mothma to appeal for assistance to be sent to Ahsoka and Sabine as they work to stop Morgan Elsbeth from heading to Peridea.

After the conflict is over, with Ahsoka and Sabine zooming across the galaxy, Syndulla is back with the senators. This time in a hearing over her actions. Seeing Syndulla once again try to convince the senators of the impending war to come is great. But also great is the ignorance, the indifference, of the senators. Especially Hamato Xiono, who speaks as strongly as Syndulla when he flat-out refuses to believe anything of what she says. This is one of the best moments to show why the New Republic fell. How can they be trusted to lead the galaxy if they refuse to listen?

5. Order 66 – 'Jedi: Fallen Order'

Ah, yes. The climax of the Clone Wars. Each new tale that gets added to the tally of this brutal order continues that same feeling of fear. Of bleak, uncertain times. The chaos and the will for survival are clear in every scene we see. Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Bad Batch, The Clone Wars. Clone blasters rise. Jedi fall. Where just moments before the relationship was friendly, both at ease with the other, now the clones have become hard as stone. And nowhere is that more on show than when playing through the devastation that is Order 66.

It’s a great thing for Respawn to have included. Throughout Cal’s journey in Jedi: Fallen Order, he’s been getting flashbacks to his training. In each one, they start already in the training room. But when, near the end, one starts not in the training room, there’s curiosity. Why? Then, controlling Cal as he goes to the training room, he passes friendly remarks with the clones he passes. The sense of dread starts up. This is the moment. And sure enough, as the training progresses, blasters rise. What follows is a frantic escape as a young Cal follows his master’s orders to get to an escape pod and flee. Never before has Order 66 felt so personal.

4. The Grief Of Kanan’s Loss – 'Star Wars Rebels'

Is it wrong for a best moment to be an entire episode? I could easily say that the events leading to this moment are the best. After all, Kanan’s sacrifice is such an emotional moment that culminates everything he has been learning about himself and the morals of a true Jedi. But what makes it so powerful is the following episode. An episode solely focused on how the rest of the Ghost crew handles the grief of that loss and pulls themselves back together to act on the advantage his sacrifice has given them.

Sabine and Zeb, most willing to jump into action, head for the Lothal capital city intent on dealing some damage to the Imperials. Hera retreats to a quiet place, reflecting on the time she and Kanan shared, and adding a new piece to the Kalikori to honor him. Ezra retreats into the Force looking for answers, admitting feeling adrift without his master to guide him. Seeing all of these characters overcoming that grief and coming to a new plan of action is one of the best moments of Rebels as a whole. In a series full of great moments, in a season overflowing with them, the reflection of ‘Dume’ hits more powerfully than any of them.

3. One Way Out – 'Andor'

Considered a great series by many, and full of political intrigue, Andor has quite a few great moments across its first season. Arrested by the Imperials and sent to prison on Narkina 5, Cassian Andor is adamant about escaping the high-security prison. Across the three episodes that also continue the other threads it is building on Coruscant, there seems little hope of escape from the prison, not least because the other inmates of his group aren’t as concerned with escape, especially one Kino Loy, who only has less than a year of his sentence to serve.

That all changes when an administrative error sees a prisoner returned to the same facility on a different floor. All of the prisoners on that floor were killed to safeguard that secret, but the rumours are already out there, and confirmed by a prisoner serving as a doctor. Escape now needs to happen. What comes next is a prison riot where every prisoner gains the upper hand on the Imperials that control it, heading for the exits that take them to the ocean which is their only means of leaving. All the while that chant is flying through the air. “One way out!” It’s a moment of hope, a small victory against the Empire, that strengthens the convictions of Andor that bring him into the Rebellion.

2. Ahsoka And Maul – 'The Clone Wars'

Maul being one of my favourite characters, there had to be a best moment with him in it. And so comes the conclusion to The Clone Wars. The Siege of Mandalore. Some great action and spectacle to be found in this four-part arc. And indeed, one that involves Ahsoka and Maul. The fight is perhaps the best of The Clone Wars, and could easily make for a best moment. But it is not the best moment. Not of this encounter. That comes with the conversation that happens before the fight begins. The reason why it does.

All Maul wants to do is talk. Bring Ahsoka to his side, so that together they could bring down Sidious’ rule. Ahsoka accepts that they can work together, believing that Maul could be the answer to destroying the dark. But one condition. What did he want with Anakin Skywalker? The truth of his answer is something she cannot accept. She cannot believe that Anakin would join the dark. Much like Obi-Wan, much like Padmé, she loves him too much to see his truth. It is too painful to accept.

1. Do Or Do Not – 'The Empire Strikes Back'

The best moment of Star Wars doesn’t come from any of the action, any of the raw emotions of loss, betrayal, or joy. It comes from a swamp world where an old Jedi Master teaches a student. It comes with a fundamental truth of all skills, even in the real world. “Do, or do not. There is no try.” Try signifies a lack of confidence to succeed, something which Luke Skywalker, still fresh regarding his ties to the Force, strongly feels. How is he meant to tap into the Force when he’s not even certain of what it means to do so? Flying, fighting, friendship. These are all tangible things to Skywalker, things he can visibly interact with.

Yet Yoda radiates calm, confidence, and certainty, as he reaches through the Force to the X-Wing, bringing it out of the swampy waters to touch down on a nearby bank. It is a powerful lesson for the prospective Jedi, who will soon come to radiate that calm, confidence, and certainty himself. That demonstration of the Force, and that lesson, runs through the entire franchise. It is the basis for who the Jedi truly are.

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