Ashoka Eps. 1 & 2 Review
When Star Wars: the Clone Wars introduced Jedi Padawan Ahsoka Tano, fans hated her. Fifteen years and a ton of character development later, she’s one of the most beloved characters in the franchise. Meanwhile, her creator, Dave Filoni, has achieved rockstar status, with many regarding, perhaps rightfully, as George Lucas’ Padawan and successor. With how popular she’s become, Ashoka getting her own miniseries wasn’t just a dream come true, but a necessity.
To say expectations for Ahsoka are high would be an understatement. Despite the success of shows like The Mandalorian and Andor, some think Star Wars has stagnated under Disney. Ergo, they think Dave Filoni is the best chance to turn things around. In addition, this also marks the first time Filoni’s taken the live-action reins by himself, no Lucas or Favreau to help him. But does the premiere for this long-awaited series live up to fan expectations and give them something to look forward to? In the words of Obi-Wan Kenobi, “I am cautiously optimistic.”
Getting Everyone Caught Up to Date
Given how it essentially picks up where Rebels left off, the first thing Ahsoka needs to do is bring everyone up to speed. Thankfully, Filoni’s fanboy-savvy nature starts the show on the right foot. There’s a modified version of the famous opening crawl, followed by a sequence that’s a homage/fusion of the openings to the original film and Episode I. From there, though, the two-part premiere serves as an extended “how we got here,” leading up to the final scene of Rebels.
Even though the Rebellion won the war, some heroes who fought in it, like the Spectres and Ashoka, aren’t living any better. While Hera and Chopper seem happy serving in the New Republic Defense Force, they remain saddened by Ezra’s disappearance. However, Sabine is in the worst state, living in Ezra’s tower with a Loth Cat, missing her friend, and having a frosty relationship with Ahsoka. The latter tried to train her as a Jedi after the events of Rebels, but both proved too stubborn for it to work, and Ahsoka walked away from it.
Lastly, there’s Ahsoka herself. Despite seeing the Empire’s fall, she hasn’t found peace. She remains the same compassionate warrior she’s always been, helping people like a wandering Ronin. However, that sadness that’s been a part of her since the Clone Wars ended is far more pronounced. It’s telling that her only companion is the Jedi droid Huyang.
While the most hardcore fans might feel impatient about waiting even more to see the quest for Ezra begin, Filoni’s making the right call with the premiere’s direction. Not all fans will know what’s going on or need the refresher. While it does affect the pacing, Ahsoka makes up for it by teasing us on what’s to come.
Star Wars is Heading into Almost Uncharted Territory
The crux of the whole show revolves around the search for two people: Grand Admiral Thrawn and Ezra Bridger. Both of them disappeared into unknown space at the end of Rebels, and while Thrawn’s confirmed to return, it’s yet to be revealed where they ended up. However, the premiere sees Ahsoka retrieve a clue in the form of a star map from an ancient Nighsister tomb. Sabine manages to unlock it on her own, and while assassin droids immediately steal it, she gets a look at where it leads. It’s not until it’s in the hands of their master, Morgan Elsbeth, revealed to be a Nightsister herself, that we learn where it leads: to another galaxy.
This route, which Dark Jedi Baylon Skoll, played by the late Ray Stevenson, is known in stories as the Pathway to Peridea, and it’s an almost unprecedented game-changer. In the old Expanded Universe, there existed the idea of dwarf galaxies orbiting the main one. Beings from other galaxies even visited the Star Wars galaxy, like the Yuuzhan Vong. The end to The Empire Strikes Back even had the Rebels retreat beyond the edge of the galaxy. However, this marks the first time it would be possible for anyone in the Star Wars galaxy to travel to another one. If that’s where Thrawn and Ezra ended up, then it opens up a new world for Star Wars to grow and evolve. A literal galaxy of new stories and adventures could await everyone.
All that’s left is the matter of who will get there first.
The Race for Peridea is on
While the opening started out slow and the pacing had some issues, Filoni’s team rallied in the second episode of Ahsoka to drop this massive bombshell. Ahsoka, Sabine, Hera, and (likely) Chopper are in a race to get to another galaxy and find Ezra before Morgan and Baylon can find Thrawn. The prospect of seeing another galaxy alone is tantalizing. Given how this show’s leaning so heavily in the Force aspects of the franchise, it might also answer some longstanding mysteries that Filoni’s been building for years. The Mortis Gods, the World Between Worlds, things fans have pondered for years could get answered.
Then we have the villains. Not only is Morgan being a Nightsister a big win for those who predicted it, Baylon and his apprentice, Shin Hati, are both mysterious and menacing. Shin serves as a good counterpart to the likes of Sabine. Meanwhile, Baylon is cold and ruthless, but also methodical in his brutality. Not to mention Marrok, the man who looks like an Inquisitor. Why is he working with a former Jedi? There’s so much left to learn.
The Internet has spoken: fans are putting their faith behind Dave Filoni, and they’re putting their faith in Ahsoka. This might not have been the strongest start, but this was only the prologue to an even greater adventure. Filoni, let this be your great trial!
