Ahsoka, So Far…
A Star Wars TV series is still better than the newer films.
Warning: Spoilers are incoming!
One thing is clear: after watching five episodes of "Ahsoka," created and written by Dave Filoni, Star Wars should continue making these epic shows. Sure, it's more for the fan base rather than for newcomers, but this fan base is enormous. The show starts a bit slow, but as with most of these Disney + shows, they get better after a few episodes. If you're a fan of Star Wars: Rebels, you will fall in love with this show from the very first episode, no doubt about it. This is basically a new live-action season of Rebels, which is not a bad thing per se; it won't bring in more unique viewers, but who needs them? As we said, the Star Wars fan base is HUGE.
Every fight scene so far has been great. The Sabine vs. Shin Hati (Ivanna Sakhno) duel was impressive, especially when Sabine (Natasha Liu Bordizzo) pretends to use the force and has a surprise in store for her. Without giving away spoilers, it just shows she should focus more on her Mandalorian side. Any time Ahsoka (Rosario Dawson) fights, it's a deadly samurai-like duel. Her fighting stances, usually Form V and Jar'Kai (duel-wielding lightsabre technique), are a sight to behold. We even get a bit of droid action with Huyang (David Tennant) showing off his moves.
The show takes about three episodes to pick up; they must build up the story, after all. Most side characters are great, but the show shines when it focuses on Ahsoka. Part 5: Shadow Warrior was every fan's dream come true. We don't want to spoil it, but it's a must-watch for any Anakin/Darth Vader (Hayden Christensen) fan. It was so good they decided even to play it in some movie theatres. If you want some good ol' Clone Wars action, this is the episode you're looking for.
A massive shout-out to the late Ray Stevenson, who stars as Baylan Skoll, a fallen dark Jedi and mercenary. He isn't your average Star Wars antagonist; we don't know yet if he is entirely on the dark side. His lightsabre is incredibly unique; it's not the usual red that a Sith would be using; instead, it is orangish, which is rare, if not unheard of, in the Star Wars universe. He wants a world where his side has all the power; to do so, he must destroy to build a new one. Indeed, it was a compelling performance from him. The main baddy has yet to appear, Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen), but his presence is felt throughout the show, like a lingering dark shadow.
Overall, Star Wars would do well in making more of these types of shows. Their movies so far have been subpar, and they don't capture the same magic as they used to. On the other hand, these shows are just what every Star Wars fan needs to remedy their chronic itch. From Andor to The Mandalorian, and now Ahsoka, these shows have been fantastic and continue to keep the Star Wars legacy alive, and the force is strong in them!
