It’s finally here. Ahsoka, the most anticipated Star Wars series, has just arrived on Disney Plus. After years of waiting for Ahsoka Tano, the Jedi created by Dave Filoni in The Clone Wars, to have her chance in live action, we can finally enjoy her through the great portrayal by Rosario Dawson.
“Ahsoka has arrived in double measure: through two episodes that serve as a prologue for a series that has already demonstrated to have the best ingredients of Star Wars. War, politics, magic, action, adventure, and mystery come together in a unique way in these first two chapters, and it has done so as a perfect blend between the series we all already know about George Lucas’ universe and the original films themselves.”
Part One: The Rumor of a New War
“The first episode of Ahsoka begins, as every Star Wars audiovisual product should, with an introductory message that puts you in context of what has happened. Basically, Grand Admiral Thrawn is missing in the universe, and there are two factions searching for him to capture him. On one side, the soldiers of the Republic and former rebels, including Ahsoka, want to find him to stop him and eliminate him. And on the other side, a group of powerful Imperials is also on his trail to declare a new war.
Right from the start of this chapter, the situation is unbalanced. While the Republic has captured Morgan Elsbeth (Diana Lee Inosanto), one of the main instigators of the imperial rebellion, she is soon freed by her companions Baylan Skoll (Ray Stevenson) and Shin Hati (Ivanna Sakhno), Siths who control the Force and establish a relationship between them similar to that of a Jedi with their Padawan.”
Meanwhile, Ahsoka embarks on an Indiana Jones-like adventure on a lost planet, where she discovers the map that could lead her to Thrawn’s hiding place. But there’s only one person who can help her decipher its hidden meaning: her former apprentice Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo).
However, those who have seen Rebels already know that Sabine isn’t easy to handle, and Ahsoka makes that very clear. In her first scene, she appears as a rock star who refuses to give a speech, fleeing on her speeder bike. And after years apart from her Master, the reunion isn’t as smooth as one might expect.
Nevertheless, Sabine ends up with the map and deciphers it… only to be attacked by Baylan Skoll when she’s about to piece together the missing parts. The former Jedi and his companion’s attack leaves her gravely wounded, pierced by a lightsaber. And, of course, they take the map with them.
Part Two: Jedi and Padawan, United Again
If the first chapter began with a sense of hope and adventure, the second one does so in a more tragic manner, with everything lost. Sabine has just fallen in combat, and Ahsoka visits her as she recovers in the hospital from her deep wound. It’s there that the relationship between the two begins to unfold: both are proud and unwilling to give in, but they also have a deep respect for each other and know that they need each other.
Throughout this second episode, Ahsoka and Sabine grow closer, gradually realizing that they must work together. While Sabine wants to find Ezra Bridger with the help of the lost map, Ahsoka aims to prevent a war and preserve peace in the galaxy. In reality, both want the same thing, but their pride makes it difficult for them to establish a closer bond.
The action, in the same way, doesn’t stop. Ahsoka finds the head of a droid in Sabine’s home that might hold the key to the whereabouts of their enemies. Meanwhile, these villains start exploring the map to finally free the Grand Admiral Thrawn, who seems to hold the destiny of the galaxy. Finally, Ahsoka marches alongside General Hera Syndulla (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) to a shipyard, and after a mutiny by former Imperials, they discover that they are closer to their enemies than they thought.
Finally, the moment comes to conclude the prologue. Sabine cuts her hair as she usually does, takes her Mandalorian helmet, and joins Ahsoka to confront their enemies. Jedi and Padawan are united once again, and this time with female power more present than ever to defeat an enemy that seems to have no end.
General conclusions
Certainly, the first two chapters of Ahsoka serve to perfectly establish the foundation of the series and make it clear that it is one of the most thoughtfully crafted and planned Star Wars narratives. It carries a significant depth about the Lucas universe. Filoni has done an exceptional job building upon his previous animated series, and it’s evident that the climax it’s leading to will be of epic proportions.
As for potential drawbacks, a couple of points can be highlighted. Firstly, there are instances where context about previous events is lacking. While everything is covered in Clone Wars and Rebels, the idea was for the series to be enjoyable independently. It is achievable, but there’s a constant sense that you might need to know more than you do.
Additionally, the prologue can sometimes feel excessively drawn out. Two full episodes revolving around a single concept might seem excessive for a series that promises action and adventure. However, it’s hoped that this dynamic will change in the upcoming third episode.
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