Warning: Spoilers follow for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
It’s happened. You’ve watched a new Star Wars movie. After seeing Rogue One, chances are you’re itching to consume more stories from the galaxy far, far away. I’m here to help you scratch that itch and get your fix. All my recommendations about what to watch before seeing Rogue One still apply, but here’s what I think you should check out after you’ve learned how the Death Star plans got into Rebel hands:
A New Hope
Rogue One ended just before A New Hope picks up the story. Watch Episode IV while the ending of the standalone that’s really a prequel is fresh in your mind. Darth Vader’s anger makes more sense. You know he’s not tolerating their “we’re on a diplomatic mission” explanation because he just saw the Tantive IV at the Battle of Scarif. Of course, the Rebels’ statement about a diplomatic mission is true from a certain point of view.
Tarkin, Tarkin, Tarkin
Grand Moff Tarkin played a larger role than I expected him to in Rogue One, and it was satisfying and interesting to see more of the Imperial villain. If you can’t get enough of Tarkin, there’s plenty of places for you to go to get more. First, read Tarkin by James Luceno. Then, go to Netflix for Star Wars: The Clone Wars and watch these episodes:
Season three: “The Citadel,” “Counterattack,” and “Citadel Rescue” – Tarkin is captured by Separatists, and Anakin Skywalker and co. have to rescue him from a secure prison facility.
Season five: “The Jedi Who Knew Too Much,” “To Catch a Jedi,” and “The Wrong Jedi” – Tarkin plays a role in Ahsoka’s final days with the Jedi Order
Then, fast forward in time to Star Wars Rebels for Tarkin’s first appearance in the series in the season one episode “Call to Action.” Note how all the Imperial officials on Lothal are afraid of Tarkin.
Catalyst
I know I mentioned James Luceno’s Rogue One: Catalyst before, but I’m going to keep beating the Catalyst drum. The novel takes a deep dive into Galen Erso and Orson Krennic’s past and features lots of information on kyber crystals.
Hammerhead Corvette Origins
The Rebels got creative in the Battle of Scarif and used a Hammerhead corvette to make two Star Destroyers crash into each other. The ship was first introduced in the Star Wars Rebels season two episode “A Princess on Lothal.” Princess Leia goes undercover to get three Alderaanian Hammerhead corvettes into the hands of the Rebellion.
Kyber Crystal Fun
Kyber crystals power the Death Star’s superlaser, but the living crystals can be used for so much more. They were the key to powering Jedi and Sith lightsabers. Get a close-up look at how Jedi find the crystal suited to them in The Clone Wars Ilum arc from season five. Watch “The Gathering” to see a group of rather adorable younglings search for their crystals.
Scary Vader
When Darth Vader unleashed his lightsaber on the Rebels in possession of the Death Star plans in Rogue One, it was a few moments of pure horror. To see more of absolutely terrifying Vader, turn to Star Wars Rebels, specifically the season two premiere “The Siege of Lothal.”
Heads-up: my next couple of recommendations are in the Legends category. That may mean the stories aren’t part of Star Wars canon, but it doesn’t mean they’re not worth reading.
Splinter of the Mind’s Eye
Alan Dean Foster’s Splinter of the Mind’s Eye was the very first novel published in the Expanded Universe, way back in 1978. In it, Luke encounters a Kaiburr crystal. Yep. It’s a good “the way things might have been” sort of story.
Darth Vader and the Ghost Prison
For an entertaining comic starring Darth Vader, look to Dark Horse Comics’ Darth Vader and the Ghost Prison by writer Haden Blackman and artist Agustin Alessio. Vader goes to the Ghost Prison, called The Prism, a secret Jedi-run prison facility.
What did you think of Rogue One? Which titles would you add to the list? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Images: Disney/Lucasfilm, Del Rey, Dark Horse Comics
