Two years ago, Star Wars stepped into a new animated format with Tales of the Jedi, examining the stories of two characters ostracized by the titular order in Dooku and Ahsoka Tano. Now, in celebration of Star Wars Day this weekend, it’s trying again—this time with a touch of the Dark Side. But while Tales of the Empire finds stronger success than its predecessor, it manages to do so rather unevenly.
But where Morgan’s side of Tales of the Empire stumbles, it soars in its exploration of Barriss Offee in a post-Order-66 world, faced with the horrifying decision of death at the new regime’s hand, or survival as part of its long shadow in the Imperial Inquisitorius. If Morgan’s story in Tales is restricted by what we already knew of the character’s future, and of her end, Barriss’ is unleashed by the unprecedented potentiality it sees in her as a character.