The TV shows of the Star Wars canon are all must-see for any fan. They are packed full of beautiful storytelling, incredible characters, and a lot of gut-wrenching emotion. While so many of the more heartbreaking moments from the likes of the animated shows come from character deaths like Kanan, Satine, and various clones, there are many different sources of sadness from the four canon TV shows.
Whether it be through goodbyes, shocking reveals, or simple yet powerful images, the television side of the Star Wars franchise never fails to deliver in heartbreak.
The Fate Of Echo
Echo's story is still playing out in The Bad Batch, but, no matter what happens there, nothing can take away from the horrific ordeal he experienced in The Clone Wars. His supposed death was hard enough; he was a fan-favorite clone, and seeing him go like that at the Citadel was hard. That was nothing compared to seeing what the Separatists had done to him, though.
A big theme of The Clone Wars is machine vs. man. The war between cold, emotionless droids and clones trying to prove themselves to be more than just numbers is the best illustration of this. But, seeing Echo turned into a machine used for evil, with his humanity and free will stripped away, is another, and it is brutal.
Finding Out About Obi-Wan & Satine
Satine Kryze's death is one of the most painful, not just in animation, but in all of Star Wars. From Maul's sickening joy to Obi-Wan holding her, it is devastating. However, it is not the first sad moment between the two.
Finding out about Satine and Obi-Wan's past was such a shock and an incredible layer to a well-established Star Wars hero. Then, when fans found out the true depths of Obi-Wan's love for her, those layers were made upsetting. He admits wholeheartedly he would have left the Order had she asked. At that moment in time, it is sad, but knowing the tragedy, the pain he would go through, and the fact that Satine dies, imagining an alternate life where Satine and Obi-Wan are alive and happy together makes it so painful.
Ezra Goes To Hyperspace With Thrawn & The Purrgils
If there is one story fans would put money on being told in the future slate of Star Wars TV, it is the continuation of Rebels where Ahsoka and Sabine go after Ezra, following the shocking end of the series.
Ezra pretty much sacrificing himself to rid Lothal of Thrawn was not only an insanely heroic, Jedi-esque move, but it was one of the most iconic scenes in the Rebels series. Ezra initially got a hard time from fans, but he grew into an enjoyable, likable, and relatable character fans rooted for. Seeing his story end in such uncertainty, as well as the end of a masterpiece in Rebels, was hard.
"Jedi Only Make Things Worse."
The prequel films never give viewers much insight into what citizens of the Republic think of the Jedi, but that's something the Clone Wars series changed. In the underrated Zygerrian slavers arc, fans got further insight into people's thoughts.
While kept as slaves, Obi-Wan finds himself hated by the other slaves, with one of them pointing out, "Jedi only make things worse." after Obi-Wan attempted to help them. Obi-Wan is trying so hard to be good and is so good at heart, but, like the Jedi, it does not come to cross like that to others, and seeing Obi-Wan so broken at this moment is another one of pure sadness.
Ahsoka Learns The Truth
Season 2 of Rebels is both fantastic and full of emotional moments for fans, most of which revolve around the ever-amazing Ahsoka Tano and her journey towards "Twighlight of the Apprentice."
"Shroud of Darkness" is one of the series's best episodes, and Ahsoka's portion of time in the Jedi Temple sees her find out the truth about Anakin, that he had, in fact, become Darth Vader. For those fans who love The Clone Wars, the sadness of this scene speaks for itself, with Ahsoka in disbelief and heartbreak about the fate of her older brother.
Rex & Order 66
The Siege of Mandalore is one of the most masterfully executed pieces of storytelling in the Star Wars franchise—better than even some movies. It is also full of tension and heartbreak that keeps fans in tears on the edge of their seats.
Ignoring the deaths of Jesse and many many other clones at the end of the arc, the execution of Order 66 by Rex is heartbreaking enough. What makes it tougher than most other examples of the order being given is not just that Rex is perhaps the most popular, fleshed-out clone, but that he tries so painfully hard to fight it, with tears in his eyes. Follow this up with Rex again in tears as he tells Ahsoka that his brothers want to kill them, and Rex makes up a large chunk of heartbreak in the arc.
Vader Holds Ahsoka's Lightsaber
Of course, the Siege of Mandalore arc does not end with Ahsoka and Rex. It ends in a flash-forward and one of the most harrowing images in all of Star Wars, void of dialogue but packed with emotion.
Seeing Vader arrive, beautifully animated, at the sight of the clone's grave/Ahsoka's fake grave, is shocking and fitting for the show's end. The image of him holding the lightsaber he had given to his former apprentice as Morai flies above, alongside the image of him walking away in one of the 332nd Company trooper's helmets, are both devastating. It is yet another tragic moment in the story of Anakin's downfall.
Ahsoka Leaves The Jedi Order
The relationship between Anakin and Ahsoka is the source of so much joy and so many iconic moments throughout The Clone Wars. Still, it is also a source of pain not just for audiences but also for both characters.
Perhaps the most iconic example of such is when Ahsoka leaves the Jedi Order. For years, fans had speculated how she would leave the story before the events of Revenge of the Sith, and season 5 answered that in a poignant manner. That shot of Anakin watching on, heartbroken, as Ahsoka leaves the Jedi Temple is one of the greatest scenes featuring the two in The Clone Wars series.
Din & Grogu Say Goodbye
The Mandalorian may be a smash hit, but it has not yet had the time to deliver the amount of storytelling and emotion as either The Clone Wars or Rebels. Nevertheless, the end to season 2 of the show was both phenomenal and affecting.
The rescue of Grogu was incredibly badass on all fronts. When Luke Skywalker arrived, the badassery was kicked up a notch, but so too was the emotion, as it meant a goodbye had to be had between Din and Grogu. Din removes his helmet, Grogu touches his face, and Din sheds a tear—it induces the waterworks for fans more than so many deaths in Star Wars history have.
"Ahsoka."
Lightsaber battles in Star Wars do not need to end in death, and many that do not are still packed full of emotion. The Battle of the Heroes, Kylo vs. Rey, and Luke vs. Vader are all perfect examples, but, in terms of heartbreak, none top Ahsoka vs. Vader.
The action of the duel itself is both wonderfully crafted and visually stunning. However, the real emotion of the scene pours out of the in-between moments when Ahsoka and Vader talk. Anakin talking through the crack in Vader's helmet is a moment that gives goosebumps to audiences, along with that Ahsoka refusing to leave him, the music from Kevin Kiner, it all comes together perfectly.