10 best fantasy and science fiction shows of 2023

9. Star Wars: Ahsoka

Lucasfilm dropped two big Star Wars shows on Disney+ this year: the third season of The Mandalorian and the first season of Ahsoka, which is one part Mandalorian spinoff and one part sequel to the Star Wars Rebels animated series. Based on the quality of its season as well as its overall significance in the Star Wars mythos, Ahsoka takes the prize between them.

Ahsoka Tano first made her debut back in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series, where she was the padawan learner to Anakin Skywalker. She’s a character beloved by many, so for her to finally get her own live-action series starring Rosario Dawson was a big moment for fans.

But Lucasfilm and Star Wars guru Dave Filoni didn’t stop there. Not only did Ahsoka get a sweeping new chapter in her story, but the show also served as a way to reunite the cast from Star Wars Rebels, standing as an homage to the animated series as well as a follow-up which finally revealed the fate of long-missing characters like Ezra Bridger and Grand Admiral Thrawn. Thrawn is one of the new big bads of the Star Wars universe, and after the events of Ahsoka he’s poised to appear in upcoming shows like Skeleton Crew or The Mandalorian season 4. The stakes in Ahsoka were high, but its effect on other series will be even higher.

Plus, we got Hayden Christensen back as Anakin Skywalker! Ahsoka was giant treat for fans who’ve stuck it out with the greater Star Wars extended universe for all these years.