2021: The Year in Star Wars
Hello there, and welcome to my review of the year, a not at all exhaustive look at the year in Star Wars from my perspective as well as your thoughts. Thank you to all who contributed.
We’ll kick off with SW on our Screens, which it has to be said has been a bit quiet this year, but we’ve had some real gems. The first season of The Bad Batch was really enjoyable with some great canon connections, I adored the first episode especially, and it will be very interesting to see where it goes.
“I loved seeing Kamino and Tipoca City (RIP) once more in The Bad Batch, I hadn't thought we'd ever see it again so it really brought home the 2002 AOTC feels.” Matt, @StarWarsSession (Twitter)
The highlight of the year on screen for me was undoubtedly Star Wars Visions, I loved seeing a brand new take on the galaxy far far away through the lens of japan, one of the very things that inspired George Lucas all those years ago, and it seems I was not alone;
“The thing I’ve most enjoyed in Star Wars this year has been Visions. It’s exciting to see something so fresh and new within Star Wars and fills me with optimism for the future and what new and unexpected treats we might get” @matthewdavidbell (Instagram)
“Probably Ochi showing up a few times or something 💯💯💯 Oh, and Bad Batch, obviously. Particularly the start of the Season. No, it was Visions. It was Star Wars Visions, comfortably.”
Luke, @StarWarsSession (Twitter)
Luke’s racing thoughts show we’ve been treated to a lot of great SW content this year as well as some surprises, on Disney+ we’ve had another Lego holiday special in Terrifying Tales, as well Biomes, Vehicle Walkthroughs, Galaxy of Sounds, Under the Helmet and more Vintage content.
“An unsung gem for me was Star Wars Biomes on Disney+; part screensaver, part visual tone-poems, I’ve long since lost track of how many times I’ve watched it (or just listened to it in the background while reading).” @JournalsOfTheWhills (Instagram)
I have to agree with Journal Of The Whills, Biomes has been a real unexpected highlight, I have rewatched this peaceful delight so many times, either as something to work or relax too, I really hope Lucasfilm make more.
In the world of SW Publishing it has been a big year, with the launch of the massive publishing project The High Republic which has crossed various media with 8 books, 4 comic lines, an audio drama and a manga - and we’re not even out of the first phase of three! I have covered the High Republic era extensively here on The Starbird Files, so I think I’ll leave it to you;
“Highlight of 2021 would have to be High Republic” Jimmy, @oldguyjedi (Twitter)
“The High Republic has been a...high point for Star Wars in 2021, introducing us to new heroes, villains, species, worlds, events and so much more.” Matt, @StarWarsSession (Twitter)
“It’s been such a strong year for Star Wars that it’s hard to pick favourites. Light Of the Jedi genuinely blew me away back in January (the opening set-piece in the first 100 pages or so was audacious and so well-executed). That said, Out Of The Shadows probably just squeaked past it as my favourite read of the year.” @JournalsOfTheWhills (Instagram)
“My favorite Star Wars media this year was The Rising Storm because it took the High Republic to a whole other level!” @connors_bookshelf (Instagram)
“I know it's obvious but this was the year of the High Republic. The year Star Wars took a step forward and really shook off those Skywalker shackles” @swbookcollector (Instagram)
“The High Republic has been such a joy to read introduced me to a whole new part of the fandom! TBB and Visions were fantastic too though!” @PadawansTHR (Twitter)
“The High Republic for sure” @matternativ (Twitter)
But that’s not all we’ve had in 2021, there has also been the War of the Bounty Hunters comic crossover event, the republication of Legends books under the Essential Legends banner and the Ronin: A Visions Novel which was a personal highlight for me. There was also the second and third installments in the Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy, these books are on my to read list and I’m excited to get to them as the reception has seemed very good;
“Thrawn Ascendancy! The High Republic was really great, but Thrawn was wonderful”
@snips7771 (Twitter)
The Negatives
There is always balance in Star Wars, so of course there have been some negatives along the way and the gaming aspect sadly has to be included here, although the announcement of the Knights of the Old Republic remake was great, there have been more and more delays to Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga which is something I’ve been looking forward to for a long time. Then there was the cinematic trailer for Star Wars Eclipse, a new High Republic era game from Quantic Dream, a studio mired in horrendous workplace accusations as well as misogyny and homophobia from the founder and president, which unlike other studios has not implemented change. Here’s hoping for better in the future.
And sadly there has been more uncertainty in the future of on screen Star Wars, with Rangers of the New Republic being taken out of active production then absorbed into future seasons of The Mandalorian. There have been little to no updates on the Taika Waititi, Kevin Feige and Rian Johnson films and Patty Jenkins’ Rogue Squadron has been delayed. While I’m loving the Disney+ content and High Republic era, Star Wars in the theater just hits different and I hope we get more solid plans in the future.
If I were to grade the Star Wars year overall, the strength of the High Republic really helps to bump up the grade to a B+.
A Look Ahead to 2022
2022 promises to be a big year for Star Wars with at least 4 Disney+ series on the way in the shape of The Book of Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor, The Bad Batch season 2 and the possibility of season 3 of The Mandalorian as well. In publishing The High Republic will continue apace with the third and final wave of the first phase coming in January, and in all likelihood the beginning of the second phase. There also two Kenobi novels in Brotherhood and Padawan coming as well as Queen’s Hope, the concluding chapter of EK Johnston’s Padme trilogy, Adam Christopher’s Shadow of the Sith and more releases in the Essential Legends line. Elsewhere the Star Wars Lego Skywalker Saga will hopefully get released and Star Wars Celebration Anaheim will surely provide us with a treasure trove of news and announcements. Personally I am looking forward to the Kenobi series, the Andor series which seems to be going under the radar for many, and of course the High Republic, but let’s see what you are looking forward to;
“Looking forward to Celebration the most, but Kenobi is right up there” Jimmy, @oldguyjedi (Twitter)
“My Star Wars 20221hype is really mainly the announcements of all we have to come and the solid year to date. Visions in my eyes was a success and the snippets of Book of Boba so far look like its going to be another 'hit' on the heels of Mando. But, bring on Ahsoka and Obi Wan! Hype levels are high!” Shaun, @iamshaunh (Twitter)
“For 2022, I'm simply looking forward to the ONSLAUGHT of Star Wars content across all mediums!! Also, Hayden.” Matt, @StarWarsSession (Twitter)
“In 2022 I’m most looking forward to the Kenobi series!” @connors_bookshelf (Instagram)
Well that’s it, let me know in the comments what your favorite Star War of the year has been and what you’re looking forward to the most in 2022!
Happy New Year to you all! 🥳
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