Some of the most criticized and overlooked elements of theStar Warsfranchise are beginning to see a resurgence of recognition in recent properties. At nearly 50 years old, the massive multimediaStar Warsfranchise has, unsurprisingly, not always pleased viewers, with some properties – such as the sequel trilogy – being the subject of intense criticism. Moreover, with two main continuities and decades of stories told across multiple mediums, manyStar Warsstories are simply obscure to the point of being forgotten by all but the most steadfast viewers.
Yet recentStar Warsproperties have started referencing the most overlooked corners of the franchise. As it stands, theStar WarsLegendscontinuity, once the franchise’s official canon, has served as a wellspring of inspiration for the modern canon, but this has been in the broad strokes for the most part. While some of the most famous elements of Expanded Universe lore have made their way into properties like the sequel trilogy and spinoff films, the more niche side of Legends is now finding its way into new Disney+ shows, including lore from some of the most lambasted properties.
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Nobody Expected To See The Holiday Special In 2024
The Star Wars Holiday Specialwas inflicted onStar Warsviewers eager for the continued adventures ofA New Hope’sheroes in 1978. While new and canonicalStar Warsstories were already released less than a year afterA New Hopein the form of comic books and novels, theHoliday Specialwas a live-action TV special with many of the original film’s cast returning. The special itself, however, was bizarre, to say the least. Although there have been arguably worseStar Warsproperties released in the past decade,The Holiday Specialis often seen as the franchise’s low point.
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Despite this, manyStar Warsproperties reference the infamousHoliday Special. Marvel’s classicStar Warscomics include appearances by Malla, Lumpawaroo, and Attichitcuk.The Mandalorianreferences the Wookiee holiday Life Day and Marvel even published a one-shot comic in the modern canon that centers on Life Day. More recently,Star Wars: Skeleton Crewincludes the same holographic circus performance that Lumpawaroo watched in theHoliday Special, bringing yet another portion of the infamously strange property into the newer continuity.
The animated segment ofThe Star Wars Holiday Special– which featured the onscreen debut of Boba Fett – is available to watch on Disney+, but the rest of the special is not.
Skeleton Crew Has Given The Ewok Movies A Legacy
TheEwoksTV movies were the first live-actionStar Warsproperties to be released afterReturn of the Jedi, withCaravan of Courage: An Ewok AdventureandEwoks: The Battle for Endorpremiering in 1984 and 1985, respectively. These Legends-era movies lean heavily into the fantasy side of theStar Warsgalaxy and further explore the Forest Moon of Endor, which turns out to be far more dangerous thanReturn of the Jedisuggests.
The first live-action lightsaber footage and props to appear afterReturn of the Jediwere in the live-action cutscenes of 1997’sStar Wars: Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II.
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TheEwoksfilms are not as ridiculed as theHoliday Special, but due to their relative obscurity, they are often overlooked, despite being a live-actionStar Warsproperty. Still, elements of theEwoksfilms have made their way into modern canon properties, like 2015’sStar Wars: Battlefrontand 2017’sStar Wars Forces of Destiny.The most recent and mainstream acknowledgment of theEwoksmovies is inSkeleton Crew, which includes a member of the speedy Teek species as a ferrymanatPort Borgo.
Now We Have Rotta The Hutt, From The Clone Wars Movie
Despite premiering before theStar Warsfranchise’s partial continuity reboot, 2008’sStar Wars: The Clone Warsis a modern canon property. While the TV series of the same name is beloved by viewers, the movie is often belittled. Reportedly, however, Rotta the Hutt – the son of Jabba and a key character in the 2008The Clone Warsfilm – will be appearing in the forthcomingThe Mandalorian and Grogumovie, giving the character his first appearance in over a decade.
These recent references to theStar Warsfranchise’s most mocked (or forgotten) stories, while hardly apologia,may indicate a gradual change of attitude toward them.The Holiday Specialis debatably endearing in its sheer wackiness and theEwoksfilms enrich the lore of Endor while making full use ofStar Wars’fantasy side. DespiteThe Clone Wars’reception, it is part of the seven-seasonThe Clone Warssub-franchise that so many viewers adore.
July 14, 2025
Star Wars
Star Wars is a multimedia franchise that started in 1977 by creator George Lucas. After the release of Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope (originally just titled Star Wars), the franchise quickly exploded, spawning multiple sequels, prequels, TV shows, video games, comics, and much more. After Disney acquired the rights to the franchise, they quickly expanded the universe on Disney+, starting with The Mandalorian.
