Launching June 10 on Star Wars Kids with its first two episodes, Jedi Temple Challenge is a unique piece of Star Wars media: an in-universe game show. When originally announced, I wasn’t quite sure how to feel about the idea, but after the initial trailer and now watching the first two episodes, I can honestly say I’ve enjoyed it far more than expected, as it’ll easily engage younger fan, and even older ones, though I’m curious most about its plans for longevity. Check out my impressions of the show so far below.
In Jedi Temple Challenge, three pairs of Padawans compete to become Jedi Knights by activating their first lightsaber, overcoming three complex and engaging trials, while those who fail are sent back to train more. As far as these trials go, they seem both tough and fair, while being engaging and entertaining to watch. Trial 1 sees the three pairs complete different courses to obtain lightsaber hilt parts, with each course a test of strength, agility, and teamwork; the bouncing pit (with meilooruns included!) and weighted backpack pull seem the most difficult but all contestants seem to think the section is fun…and I for one would agree. The first Trial definitely is one I would’ve loved to try recreating in my backyard as a kid in hopes I might one day be on the show, so I’m jealous of kids who might have this opportunity after watching. Trail 2 is a little more complex simply because it requires answering very random questions regarding a somewhat lengthy story the remaining two pairs of Padawans are told. Each tale is written by Cavan Scott, writer of Star Wars Adventures, Dooku: Jedi Lost, Return to Vader’s Castle, and much more, and they are entertaining and packed with plenty of details to both ask the Padawans and for the Padawans to try to remember; there’s even a little reference to Jaxxon in the second episode’s story! Remembering such minute details in such short of time would likely be the part where I’d fail the most, so I admire the kids for completing these rather effortlessly at times. The final Trail, which sees them traversing a Jedi Temple, is definitely the highlight of the show, with plenty of different and difficult challenges to overcome that require skill and teamwork, while a little Sith presence (voiced by Sam Witwer, who played Darth Maul of course!) is thrown in there for good measure to tempt the prospective Jedi Knights. By the end of the second episode (see below), we see a team who is unable to complete the final Trial, so it was interesting to know there’s the likelihood of that, thus increasing the tense factor for watching the final Trial. I also appreciated the little changes made to the final two Trials, with the different story and puzzle changes, so that viewers at home aren’t always watching the same exact thing.
Hosting Challenge is Jedi Master Kelleran Beq, played by the one, the only, Ahmed Best! Talk about a comeback story here, as Best was unfortunately mistreated by fans for years due to his role as Jar Jar Binks (I was 9 when The Phantom Menace came out so I’ve always loved Binks in his own way), and it affected the actor. The mood of fans changed though, felt earnestly at TPM’s anniversary panel at Star Wars Celebration Chicago 2019, and the way they’ve embraced his part in the show before it even released has been excellent to see and exciting to partake in. Best plays Beq with charming enthusiasm, and I particularly enjoy his ability to improvise (his line about a crisp high five brought me some good laughs), while the positivity shown to every Padawan, win or lose, is an important distinction from other game shows and how they treat “contestants.” It’s Best’s performance, his earnestness, that really centers the show and its very positive outlook, making it feel more like something Jedi could’ve done and less of a real world thing. And that’s bolstered by AD-3, voiced by Mary Holland and performed by Gordon Tarpley, who acts a bit as a counterpart with a little more saucy, humorous lines, while Holland’s bubbly performance of the stories written by Scott are one of the highlights of each episode. They are joined by an astromech LX-R5, performed by Michael McMaster, who provides some fun beeps and boops as well. Overall, the cast is what really brings the whole show alive, beyond the great looking sets and inventive challenges, and I really want more of Beq’s story.
Two episodes in and I’m appreciating the depth of diversity with the Padawans, something I wish the films could begin reflecting sooner rather than later. And I’m also very jealous of the contestants, and younger fans, as I can’t imagine how exciting it is to be involved or to watch these kids compete as well. The ending of the first episode, where the last team completes the final trial, gets to hold lightsabers aloft and these kids are much better at keeping their composure than I ever could, even now, if I happened to be on the show. The main audience for this will likely eat up each episode and I can’t blame them. As an older fan, of course I’m thinking of the show’s longevity: will each season of the show be the same challenges? How many episodes will this have? Will it change locations/challenges mid-season? Will we see the contestants who ‘failed’ again? Will the newly anointed Jedi Knights come back for some type of champion challenges? For kids, this likely isn’t a concern and I imagine the show will draw plenty of viewers regardless of how it proceeds, and I won’t mind if the show doesn’t change much, but I can’t help being curious on what more it could do.
Here are a few other things:
- The show originally was to be released June 3, but with the current Black Lives Matter protests, producer and star Ahmed Best felt it was best to let those voices be heard instead, a brilliant and appreciated move.
- For more about the making of the show, and interviews with Best, Holland, and more, check out the official site’s post about JTC.
Jedi Temple Challenges is a fun game show that’ll delight fans of all ages, buoyed by great cast performances and fun, inventive sets/challenges, though its plans for longevity leave a question mark but don’t take away from the fun.
+ Master Beq and AD-3 delight
+ Fun, inventive challenges
+ Great, easy fun for all fans
– Though it leaves questions about longevity
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website on Twitter @MynockManor and Instagram @mynockmanor.