‘Young Jedi Adventures’ Season 1 Review and Discussion; Where Does the Series Go From Here?
When Young Jedi Adventures was announced back in 2022, I approached it with cautious optimism. By definition, children’s programming like this would never be as engaging as other Star Wars offerings. But as more details emerged, something began to click. Bright and bubbly characters, galaxy-spanning adventures, and Nubs-related shenanigans were on the way. The only thing standing in the way of this series’ success was the overarching question. Could it succeed in introducing fans to Star Wars at such a young age?
Well, the entire 25-episode first season is now available on Disney Plus, and the answer is a resounding yes. While your mileage may vary, love for these characters can be found everywhere. Season 1 of Young Jedi Adventures was a triumph of fun, laughter, heart, surprising amounts of Star Wars lore, and sneaky good writing that can appeal to more than just the intended audience. Kai Brightstar, Lys Solay, and Nubs are fantastic additions to the Star Wars galaxy, and their stories are only beginning.
With the season now in the rearview mirror, I thought it would be fun to look back at a few factors that made the season work so well. I also have an itch that needs scratching. The final episodes that just dropped signaled confidence from the showrunners that this show can become so much more than it already is. Let’s get into it.
Spoilers ahead for all of Young Jedi Adventures season 1.
The Series Stayed True to Itself
Young Jedi Adventures was never going to win over every Star Wars fan, nor did that feel like the goal at any point. I’d be lying if I said that the generic “cute creature” or “baddie of the week” episodes ever completely enthralled me, but it’s in these seemingly filler episodes that the show’s formula comes to light. These are kids doing kids’ things. Kai, Lys, and Nubs may be Jedi, but it’s their childlike wonder that makes each new adventure worth going on.
The younglings were allowed to be children first before Jedi, which only made them more relatable. You could see yourself in these younglings, watching them learn from the same mistakes you may have once made as a kid. The show’s heart is always in the right place, and it makes the many moments of heroism feel earned.
Lys and Nubs deserve some love in this area. The Growing Green Danger follows Nubs as he stands up to the plant monster he accidentally creates. Staring it down sparks fear in Nubs’ heart, but he finds a way to overcome it. He remains calm in the face of danger and saves the day. Nubs may be the lovable toy-seller of the group, but he is full of bravery.
In the Life Day episode, Lys risks life and limb to retrieve the runaway orb for her new Wookiee friend. She is someone who always wants to help everyone, no matter who or what, so it’s hard not to feel genuinely sad when she fails. The voice acting in Young Jedi Adventures is rarely anything to write home about. Dee Bradley Baker’s performance as Nubs is pure joy, but that character’s charm is largely thanks to the way he’s animated. The majority of performances are good, but that is all you can say. I have to give Juliet Donenfeld her flowers for her work on Life Day. She sells the gravity of Lys’ mistake brilliantly. It looks like her brief stint on Better Call Saul is paying dividends in a galaxy far, far away.
The Series is Really Good at Being Star Wars
Lightsaber fights. Sprawling action. Timely use of classic John Williams’ themes. Good versus evil. Iconic locales. Yoda being a badass. Easter eggs. Lore far and wide. Young Jedi Adventures is awfully good at executing Star Wars tropes when it wants to. Not every episode gets into the weeds, but it doesn’t need to.
The show chose its moments to incorporate those deeper Star Wars elements without becoming overwhelming. The first episode of the show featured a lesson on the importance of a Jedi’s lightsaber, which concluded with Yoda giving Kai his old training lightsaber. That scene would be important later on during what might be the season’s best episode: The Caves of Batuu. Of all the things on my bingo card, a Force vision was not one. Kai spends the season wrestling with what it means to be a great Jedi, and this vision guides him to the answer. The episode beautifully walked the fine line between making the trippy side of the Force accessible and hammering home one of the season’s finest character arcs.
Another standout is An Adventure with Yoda, in which the great Jedi Master tags along on a mission to rescue someone from the Nihil. The marauder’s inclusion is treated as a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Easter egg, and it’s beautiful. I didn’t even catch their signature symbols on first viewing. Yoda’s mastery of the Force is also on full display in this episode. I’m happy he had such a vital role in the series.
Some of the lightsaber action is also off the charts. In Clash, there is a practice duel between Kai and Djovi that is as well choreographed as anything we’ve seen in other animated projects. Elsewhere, each duel between Kai and Taborr improves as the season progresses. In part, this is due to the season’s careful attention to making each confrontation between the two meaningful, which is an excellent segue.
The Series Has a Compelling Hero and Villain Dynamic
The saying goes that Star Wars is only as good as its villains. Taborr isn’t going to threaten anyone’s top Star Wars villains charts, but he is a perfect foil for Kai. We begin the season thinking Taborr is your typical baddie who will appear in the occasional episode, but boy, did they have plans for that lad.
The first indication that something is up comes in Off the Rails. After a skirmish that results in Kai and Taborr being stranded and forced to work together, we get hints that all Taborr wants is recognition. He chose the pirate life as the quickest and easiest way to achieve his goals. Kai later points out that he senses Taborr’s heart isn’t committed to this life of crime. As the season progresses, Kai makes more attempts to reach Taborr. Then they fight. Then they work together again. And so on. It’s a vicious cycle. Everything soon comes to a head in the finale.
The Prince and the Pirate is a bold conclusion to the season. Spending a significant portion of the finale from Taborr’s, or should I say, Cyrus’, perspective provided an excellent opportunity to learn what makes him tick. The twist that Taborr is Cyrus is a wild one, considering we met Cyrus earlier in the season as the Prince of Vuundala.
In Aftershock, our young trio altered Cyrus’ outlook on helping others. We also met his parents, the king and queen, who are the stereotypical over-the-top, bumbling royalty figures who only care about their bank accounts. This makes Cyrus’ relationship with them tenuous at best, reshaping everything we know about Taborr. On rewatch, it’s clear that Cyrus is reluctant to accept the Jedi’s help because of his secret. It’s also obvious that this is a boy who just needs a hug.
Back to The Prince and the Pirate, the season ends with one final confrontation between Cyrus/Taborr and our core trio. Of course, good wins the day and Taborr’s plot is foiled, but this episode had more on its mind. Taborr chooses to keep his true identity a secret. Capping things off is Yoda, telling Cyrus that he sees great things in his future. All he has to do is make the right choice. Did I mention how awesome it was to have Yoda be such an integral part of the show?
I adore how this finale flips a large chunk of the season on its head. Kai and Cyrus are two children heading down the same path, wanting to impress those around them and become something great. Kai has the tools to do good. Meanwhile, Cyrus, due to circumstances and his upbringing, believes he must use the tools he has been given for evil. At some point, Cyrus will surely join the forces of good, but ending the season on this note shows commitment to a longer narrative. Bold move, Lucasfilm, keeping three-year-olds on the hook.
The Series’ Future Remains Bright
First things first, season 2 is still technically up in the air. However, it would be odd to not capitalize on the season’s open-ended finale. Not only is there suddenly actual character drama in the mix, but looking at the timeline, there are plenty of fresh avenues for this show to explore. With the show caught up to Phase 1 of the High Republic publishing initiative, the Nihil are officially coming. The marauders spent time in the books and comics recruiting others to their cause. Krix Kamerat, from The High Republic Adventures, was a child who quickly rose through the ranks. I’m not saying Taborr could do the same, but I’m not not saying it.
The one thing about Young Jedi Adventures is that the possibilities are endless. It is Star Wars the whole family can enjoy, with a growing amount of content for the older folk in the room as well. The stories are only getting better, the action is only getting more thrilling, and Nubs is only getting… nubsier? I can’t wait for more.
Nate uses his love for Star Wars and movies in general as a way to cope with the pain of being a Minnesota sports fan. When he's not at the theater, you can usually find Nate reading a comic, listening to an audiobook, or playing a Mario video game for the 1,000th time.
