4. Star Wars: The Bad Batch

Star Wars has long been about ragtag groups coming together to form found families as they fight back forces more powerful than themselves in a desperate effort to save the galaxy, or at least survive for one more day. And Star Wars: The Bad Batch, a spin-off of Clone Wars starring a squad of “defective” elite troopers, follows that classic Star Wars playbook perfectly.

At first I was worried the series, set shortly after the events of Episode III, would feel too by the numbers. But as it progresses, Bad Batch uses the Star Wars formula to tell a story of loyal soldiers now faced with the fact that their side is the bad side and the galaxy is a worse place because of them. It’s a dark time in Star Wars, and Bad Batch doesn’t shy away from sad or mature moments. It’s not quite Andor, but this is a series that’s not afraid to kill characters or show how defeated the galaxy is post-Episode III’s Jedi Purge and the rise of the Empire.

What could have been a silly show about weird Clone Troopers getting into random adventures each week is actually a series about betrayal, destruction, hope, and perseverance that also helps fill in some lore gaps in this era of the franchise. In other words, you should probably watch Bad Batch! — ZZ