Tune In Or Tune Out: ‘Ahsoka’ Is One For The Fans, Though Maybe Not Everyone Else
The penultimate episode of Disney Plus’s latest Star Wars series, Ahsoka, dropped yesterday. The eight-part miniseries is a spin-off of The Mandalorian (2019-), taking place after the fall of the Empire in Return of the Jedi (1983) and continuing with characters and plotlines from the animated series Star Wars: Rebels (2014-2018). This newest edition to the galaxy follows Ahsoka — the padawan (or mentee) of Anakin Skywalker — as she races imperial loyalists across the cosmos to find the exiled Grand Admiral Thrawn before he returns and unites the remaining loyalists into an army. Ahsoka comes with a lot of background references that fans are sure to appreciate; however, without a previous attachment to the characters, there is not a ton to draw in new viewers.
That being said, the series does well by its source material and brings Ahsoka to life in a fulfilling way, now older and wiser than her first appearance in Star Wars: The Clone Wars or Rebels. After all, Ahsoka’s showrunner, David Filoni, created the character with George Lucas. Filoni is brimming with Star Wars knowledge, previously working on The Mandalorian and The Clone Wars and currently as an executive producer and executive creative director for Lucasfilm. Rosario Dawson (Sin City), who plays live action Ahsoka in this series, The Mandalorian (where the live action character was introduced), and the 2022 spinoff series The Book of Boba Fett, is a huge fan of The Clone Wars herself; she prepared for the role by rewatching the animated series as well as the whole Star Wars saga. While Ahsoka could benefit from more effort to draw new viewers into the story and characters, the fans will appreciate familiar faces as well as a distinct identity from other Star Wars installments.
Meet Ahsoka
Dawson’s performance is the keystone of the series. Her portrayal of Ahsoka is badass, cheeky, and wise, with a touch of the frustrating, fun craziness of seasoned Jedi masters like Yoda or Obi-wan. While still struggling with what her legacy will be after leaving Anakin and the Jedi Order, she plays an astute, caring mentor opposite Natasha Liu Bordizzo’s (The Society) Sabine Wren. Also from Rebels, Sabine is the classic stubborn pupil with heart but a cool exterior and no discipline. As such, she follows in the footsteps of Luke Skywalker and all the characters who trained to be Jedi. Watching Sabine train with Ahsoka is familiar and enjoyable; they fall into the roles of the frustrated learner and the teacher that teases them yet pushes them forward. However, Sabine’s impulsivity may be frustrating for some viewers, and it is a bit unclear why, after resisting for so long, Ahsoka decides to train Sabine again.
It is a pleasure to see so many fierce women in the cast. Ahsoka and Sabine are aided in their search for Thrawn by the New Republic general Hera Syndulla, played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Scott Pilgrim vs. The World). First introduced in Rebels, Hera isn’t afraid to break rules to help her friends with a mission she believes in. Villain Morgan Elsbeth, introduced in The Mandalorian and played by Diana Lee Inosanto (The Mandalorian), is a powerful Nightsister of Dathomir — witches that were first mentioned in a Star Wars Legends novel in 1994. She is a formidable opponent for the usually undefeatable Ahsoka and brings a fresh, mystical element to the series that is less explored in the rest of the Star Wars franchise.
The supporting cast brings fresh blood in addition to familiar faces. David Tennant (Doctor Who) reprises his role from The Clone Wars as Ahsoka’s droid Huyang. Fussy and logical but certainly more than a C-3PO knockoff, Huyang is sensible and pushes those around him to be better. One new addition is Baylan Skoll, played by Ray Stevenson (Thor). Working to find Thrawn alongside Morgan Elsbeth, he is a former Jedi who turned to the Dark Side. His unique motivations for leaving the Order and his visions for the future of the galaxy have been hinted at, but they are intriguing and deserve more exploration. One of the most compelling characters is the big bad himself: Grand Admiral Thrawn; he is played by Lars Mikkelsen (The Witcher), reprising his role from Rebels. Thrawn is a subtle and chilling villain. Not a Force user, he is calm and calculating, relying on wits and strategy as opposed to mystical sayings about turning to the Dark Side (which is, of course, gripping in its own right, but Thrawn’s approach gives the series its own identity). Mikkelsen and Dawson deliver pitch-perfect performances, accompanied by solid acting from the rest of the cast.
Was it Tune In or Tune Out?
The series moves at a steady pace, with each episode bringing the protagonists one step closer to finding Thrawn and solving the central conflict. There is about one big fight per episode and several bits of action in between which feature lightsabers, blasters, ships, and combinations of different weapons, satisfying viewers’ thrill craving. The heroes consistently come up with creative ways to solve problems and regroup after set-backs. However, there are no real twists. A great deal of focus lies on the central plot so not a lot of character development occurs; this is especially detrimental if the viewer is not already familiar with the extensive backstory.
Characters’ motivations are relatively simple — good versus evil, power, or, for Sabine, wanting to find her friend Ezra, who is stuck with Thrawn after forcing him out of the galaxy. A satisfying flashback episode for Ahsoka delves more into how past events have led to who she is now. However, the series does not rehash Clone Wars/Rebels characters’ pasts, personalities, and growth. While there could be more exploration of new characters, those who already have knowledge of and attachment to the characters will appreciate seeing them again, but the rest may be left behind.
Overall, the series is full of nostalgia. The expository crawl at the beginning of the first episode creates instant excitement for Star Wars fans. Later in the first episode, distinctly Star Wars orchestral music pulls the viewer straight into the world; notably, punkish space pop plays during Sabine’s intro, signaling that these characters will bring something unique. However, the classic wipe transitions and a guest appearance by someone from Ahsoka’s past makes it clear this show knows its audience.
Who will like it?
If you’re a fan of the extended Star Wars universe, and if you already know and love Ahsoka and characters from The Clone Wars or Rebels, rest assured this series does right by them. The show serves the fans without feeling fan-service-y or contrived. Ahsoka is not simply more of the same Star Wars fare either, as it expands the universe without rehashing past installments. However, if you have no attachment to Star Wars, or even if you do but not to Ahsoka and her crew specifically, there might not be enough deep exploration of the characters — new and old — to pull you into the world. Ahsoka is by the fans and for the fans, although perhaps not everyone else.
