Dave Filoni has helmed some of the best “Star Wars” shows the series has to offer, including “The Clone Wars,” “The Bad Batch” and “Rebels.” He’s also been a big part of bringing “The Mandalorian” to life, which has spawned “Ahsoka,” which Filoni has written and directed.
The titular Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson) is a character originally conceived in “The Clone Wars” by Filoni and George Lucas that outgrew her role as serving as Anakin Skywalker’s short-lived apprentice, showing up as a recurring character in both “Rebels” and “The Mandalorian.” Ahsoka is a fiercely independent former Jedi that left the order of her own free will before Order 66, helping the Rebel Alliance and those in trouble when she can.
This series takes off years after “Rebels,” and serves as a sort-of successor series. Other than Ahsoka, our leads are Sabine Wren (Natasha Bordizzo), a Mandalorian who has unsuccessfully trained under Ahsoka since “Rebels” and who misses Ezra Bridger, a Jedi who banished himself and Imperial Admiral Thrawn in that show’s finale; and General Hera Syndulla (Mary Winstead), who was the pilot of the protagonists’ ship in “Rebels,” and served as a mother figure.
These three must work together when an ancient artifact becomes uncovered, which has a map leading to a path to the galaxy where Thrawn and Ezra are. A group consisting of Dark Jedi Baylan Skoll (Ray Stevenson) and his apprentice, Shin Hati (Ivanna Sakhno) emerge, determined to recover the device and through it, Thrawn, who is the only person capable of uniting the Imperial Remnants.
Because of these characters, we get some really cool lightsaber fights full of stakes, atmosphere and really good choreography with Ahsoka and Sabine, who have their own baggage they have to get past. They have failed before as master and apprentice and need to find the courage to try again.
I really like how Sabine tries to live up to Ezra’s example to the point where she doesn’t consider what she wants or what her path should be; there is plenty laid out in these first two episodes to really land a satisfying character arc. Similarly, Ahsoka comes off as too stoic and impossible to please; her master did turn into Darth Vader, so it is understandable why she likely tried to hold Sabine to an unrealistic standard.
Episodes 1 and 2 of “Ahsoka” are a very strong start to this show and are instantly engaging. Even if you are not a “Rebels” fan, you can still pick up on where everyone is coming from and the internal struggles they carry. The show also has a very good transition of characters from the cartoon into live action.
I’m excited to see where this goes. Filoni has not let us down yet; let him cook.
“Star Wars: Ahsoka” Season 1: Episodes 1 & 2 get a 9/10
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