I’m the first in line to tell you that you should watch every episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars: Rebels, but not everyone has the time. As The Mandalorian, the first live-action Star Wars TV series, finds new ways to tie in with the movies and TV shows that came before, here are, in my opinion, the essential episodes so you can really appreciate the universe The Child is part of. (I’m assuming you don’t need a refresher on the original trilogy, but these episodes are also a great tie-in to Solo, which takes place between the two series.)

The Clone Wars:

The Clone Wars theatrical movie

S2E05 – Landing at Point Rain

S2E06 – Weapons Factory

S2E07 – Legacy of Terror

S2E08 – Brain Invaders

S2E12 – The Mandalore Plot

S2E13 – Voyage of Temptation

S2E14 – Duchess of Mandalore

S3E05 – Corruption

S3E06 – The Academy

S3E10 – Heroes on Both Sides

S3E12 – Nightsisters

S3E13 – Monster

S3E14 – Witches of the Mist

S3E15 – Overlords

S3E16 – Altar of Mortis

S3E17 – Ghosts of Mortis

S3E21 – Padawan Lost

S3E22 – Wookiee Hunt

S4E14 – A Friend in Need

S4E19 – Massacre

S4E20 – Bounty

S4E21 – Brothers

S4E22 – Revenge

S5E01 – Revival

S5E14 – Eminence

S5E15 – Shades of Reason

S5E16 – The Lawless

S5E17 – Sabotage

S5E18 – The Jedi Who Knew Too Much

S5E19 – To Catch a Jedi

S5E20 – The Wrong Jedi

At this point, “Darth Maul: Son of Dathomir” is a worthwhile read. The comic miniseries was based on unproduced episodes of The Clone Wars when the series was abruptly canceled. It’s not necessary, but it does bridge a gap and answer questions that might come up with the next batch of episodes.

S7E05 – Gone with a Trace

S7E06 – Deal No Deal

S7E07 – Dangerous Debt

S7E08 – Together Again

S7E09 – Old Friends Not Forgotten

S7E10 – The Phantom Apprentice

S7E11 – Shattered

S7E12 – Victor and Death

This is a good place to read the novel “Ahsoka.”

Star Wars Rebels:

S1E01 – Spark of Rebellion

S1E15 – Fire Across the Galaxy

S2E01 – The Siege of Lothal

S2E03 – The Lost Commanders

S2E13 – The Protector of Concord Dawn

S2E18 – Shroud of Darkness

S2E21 – Twilight of the Apprentice

S3E03 – The Holocrons of Fate

S3E07 – Imperial Supercommandos

S3E08 – Visions and Voices

S3E15 – Trials of the Darksaber

S3E16 – Legacy of Mandalore

S3E20 – Twin Suns

S4E01 – Heroes of Mandalore

S4E10 – Jedi Night

S4E11 – DUME

S4E12 – Wolves and a Door

S4E13 – A World Between Worlds

S4E14 – A Fool’s Hope

S4E15 – Family Reunion and Farewell