Star Wars Has the Perfect Next Show Hiding in Plain Sight, and It’s Even Better Than ‘The Acolyte’

The Star Wars franchise has grown in every direction as it introduces new characters, expands the timeline, and explores different formats. But one area that the franchise hasn’t fully taken advantage of is Star Wars: Visions. The anthology series features unique animation styles from a wide variety of anime studios, with each season containing several standalone stories. The franchise has always been delivering new content, with some series focusing on new points in the timeline while others expand the existing galaxy. Some shows have not quite landed successfully, but Star Wars has already quietly developed the perfect idea for a new series.

The recently released Season 3 takes Star Wars: Visions to new territory by revisiting two stories from Season 1, “The Duel” and “The Ninth Jedi.” Though each installment is usually meant to be a one-off story, these sequels build on the themes from the original episodes and allow fans to become more invested in the characters, proving that some stories can benefit from additional time. Further developing Visions episodes is long overdue, and though many stories could be expanded, Season 2’s “Journey to the Dark Head” would make the perfect new Star Wars series.

“Journey to the Dark Head” Offers a New Twist on Star Wars’ Classic Story

Toul (Eugene Lee Yang) in Star Wars: Visions “Journey to the Dark Head”Image via Disney+

Since the beginning, Star Wars has been about the clash of good and evil, and “Journey to the Dark Head” honors that. The fifth episode of Season 2 is a short made by Studio Mir, and not only is it visually stunning, but it is reminiscent of Star Wars’ most epic story. The episode features a conflict between a Jedi and a Sith Lord, but it takes a unique approach. During a war between the Jedi and the Sith, a girl, Ara (Ashley Park), proposes that the Jedi Council destroy the prophetic statue on her home world that represents the Dark Side. The Jedi agree, sending Toul (Eugene Lee Yang) on a mission with Ara in hopes of changing the tide in the war. Through this framework, the story explores the ideas of balance and fate, forcing both characters to grow in the process.

Toul’s storyline is particularly intriguing because it’s not entirely unique. Like so many Star Wars stories, “Journey to the Dark Head” features the traditional storyline of a Jedi tempted by the Dark Side, only to flip it on its head. In many ways, Toul’s arc mirrors Anakin’s (Hayden Christensen) as he struggles with anger and fear that threaten to corrupt him. Throughout the short, Toul must face his past as he fights Bichan (Daniel Dae Kim), the Sith who killed his Master. However, unlike Anakin, Toul overcomes the temptation, acknowledging the balance in the Force. While it is a different war and a new cast of characters, the story is almost a more hopeful version of Anakin’s fate. This leaves Toul in a unique position that could be interesting to explore, if his story were to continue.

“Journey to the Dark Head” Creates a New Character Dynamic for Star Wars

While the epic struggle is the main storyline, the episode is carried by the two main characters, and even though the story reaches an end, Toul and Ara’s dynamic could only benefit from more time together. Each is compelling, but they are much better together. Starting as reluctant companions, they don’t exactly get along, but grow to appreciate one another. Ultimately, despite their differences, they end up rescuing each other as Toul stops Bichan, and Ara saves her companion from crashing. While their slowly developing friendship is fun to watch, it is only just beginning as “Journey to the Dark Head” ends. Between the pain in Toul’s past and Ara’s experience in interpreting visions of the future, either could make an interesting protagonist to explore more deeply, so together, they create a perfect pair, more than capable of carrying a series.

During their journey, Toul and Ara develop an entertaining dynamic, antagonizing each other but also building trust. Their relationship adds humor to the otherwise dark episode as they bicker about Ara’s skill as a mechanic and how Toul’s attitude is unconventional for a Jedi. This could easily translate to a larger format, bringing highs and lows to a series based on these characters. Toul and Ara are only together for a short time in “Journey to the Dark Head,” but the more familiarity they have with each other, the more hilarious their sarcastic arguments could become, and with time, Toul and Ara could become one of Star Wars’ most memorable duos.

“Journey to the Dark Head” Is Already Set Up to Be the Perfect Expansion for Star Wars

Ara (Ashley Park) and Toul (Eugene Lee Yang) in Star Wars: Visions “Journey to the Dark Head”Image via Disney+

“Journey to the Dark Head” may only be 19 minutes long, but it has a lot to offer in terms of potential. While there are many stories in the three seasons of the anthology series that could go on beyond their allotted time, “Journey to the Dark Head,” in particular, sets up another adventure. At the end, Toul and Ara have accepted their roles in the battle against Bichan, but Toul then invites Ara to accompany him on his next mission. Considering that there is a galactic war going on, that storyline could fill more than 20 minutes, justifying its own series.

A continuation of “Journey to the Dark Head” could be exactly what Star Wars is looking for. Technically, Star Wars: Visions is not canon, so it is not officially part of the timeline, yet this episode seems to align with the Old Republic era, when the Jedi and Sith often fought. No Star Wars show has explored this era, though it is featured in The Knights of the Old Republic video games. Expanding the story could allow the franchise to move further back in the timeline, much like The Acolyte, though this would be even further removed from the main saga, allowing it even more freedom. “Journey to the Dark Head” leaves much to unpack, and the limited time it receives in Star Wars: Visions just isn’t enough, making it the perfect way for the franchise to expand into a new era.

Star Wars: Visions is streaming on Disney+ in the U.S.

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Release Date

September 22, 2021

Network

Disney+

Franchise(s)

Star Wars

• Michael Sinterniklaas

  Tuskan Raider