6 Things About The Ahsoka TV Show That Were Great, & 4 That Still Bother Me Almost A Year Later

Summary

• The Ahsoka series leans heavily on nostalgia, uniting characters from Star Wars Rebels and featuring great lightsaber fights – but that’s not enough to carry it through.
• Baylan Skoll & Shin Hati and Ahsoka’s ascension to Ahsoka the White are great moments that really make the Ahsoka TV show shine.
• The season 1 finale and icompetence of the New Republic, however, make this story fall flat.

As we approach the one-year anniversary of Ahsoka, I think it would be a good time to look back and reflect on the live-action Star Wars series. Overall, I enjoyed the series and think it was a remarkable evolution for the titular character. Rosario Dawson continued to excel as Ahsoka Tano, which saw her journey to find Grand Admiral Thrawn and Ezra Bridger in an unexplored part of the Star Wars universe. Reuniting with members of the Ghost crew from Star Wars Rebels, Ahsoka’s journey in this series helped solidify her as one of Star Wars’ best characters.

The Ahsoka series showcased some new characters, but mostly leaned into the nostalgia of characters who already had some groundwork within the franchise. The Ahsoka series had some of the best lightsaber fights seen since Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith and featured an episode that united the Star Wars fandom’s love towards Anakin. That said, the show was far from perfect and included some issues that Disney’s Star Wars TV shows have been struggling with. Here’s my list of six great things about Ahsoka and four that still bother me.

10 Great: The Series Was Essentially Rebels Season 5

The Series Played On Nostalgia But In A Good Way

When the Ahsoka series trailer first dropped, many fans started the conversation that this would be the animated show’s unofficial fifth season, which ran from 2014 to 2018. As it turns out, that was indeed the case, and I loved it. Seeing the Ghost crew again in live action brought warmth to my heart. The best part about this was how Dave Filoni’s writing allowed the crew’s reunification to feel like a natural story component.

While the story surrounded Ahsoka, seeing Sabine Wren, Hera Syndulla, and our favorite war criminal of a droid, Chopper, being implemented in the story was a victory for all of us who love the underrated animated series they were a part of. Of course, this is compounded on top of Thrawn and Ezra’s return to Star Wars after years of speculation about what happened after Rebels’ ending. While the series pulled heavily on nostalgia, nothing about it felt forced.

9 Great: Baylan Skoll & Shin Hati

The Two Became Gripping Antagonists For Audiences

The villains of this series, played respectively by Ivanna Sakhno and the sadly departed Ray Stevenson, were an excellent addition to the Star Wars franchise. Their dynamic is intriguing, mainly because Baylan was raised on the Jedi Code. He is a mentor trying to pass on some aspects of his Jedi teachings, training her to be “something more” than a Jedi or a Sith. While dedicated to her master, Shin’s aimlessness in what she wants shows in the latter part of the series. They are also opposites in one aspect. Baylan equips patience well, while Shin struggles with it.

One parting lesson, Shin. Impatience for victory will guarantee defeat.

Baylan cares deeply for his Padawan and is a good mentor for the ambitious apprentice. The thing that makes this pair great is the mystery behind them and how different their motivations are. When Baylan and Shin part ways, his desire to seek a higher form of power related to the Mortis gods drastically differs from Shin’s. Baylan and Shin’s roles as antagonists in this series became an impressive sideshow for the series, sometimes even eclipsing the main show. When Ahsoka season 2 is announced, it will be interesting to see the paths two incredible characters take in the franchise.

8 Great: The Re-Introduction Of Jacen Syndulla

The Son Of Kanan Has Shown His Potential

The first live-action adaptation of Kanan Jarrus and Hera Syndulla’s son, played by Evan Whitten, was a welcome sight. As a travel companion with his mother, Hera, and his unofficial father, Chopper, Jacen Syndulla adds a new avenue to the Star Wars franchise. Being the child of as great of a Jedi as Kanan, it was no surprise that Jaycen would start to develop such a strong connection to the force.

The moment when Jacen can sense and hear Ahsoka’s World Between Worlds lightsaber fight is fantastic and a great introduction to his eventual path of possibly becoming a Jedi. It certainly impressed Ahsoka enough, and it impressed fans as well. His powerful connection to the Force sets up another possible Force wielder in the New Republic era and one many would welcome. Although he only played a small part, little Jacen is a welcome addition to the franchise, and he played a vital part in the series by helping save Ahsoka’s life.

7 Great: The Entire World Between Worlds Sequence

One Of Star Wars’ Best Moments Was Shown In Episode 5

The best part of the series (by far) was the ending of episode 4 and most of episode 5, which showed Ahsoka in the World Between Worlds. Seeing Ahsoka and Anakin together in live-action is everything Star Wars: The Clone Wars fans like myself have wanted ever since Dawson’s first appearance in The Mandalorian. After her defeat at the hands of Baylan Skoll, Ahsoka had to fight for her life in the mysterious alternate dimension with the help of her former master, who helped finish her training.

The split-second moment where Ahsoka has Sith eyes is super important. It helped Ahsoka sympathize with Anakin’s turn by signifying how easily it can happen to Jedi.

The fight sequence that started was some of Star Wars’ best, and the flashback sequences we see of the Clone Wars carried so much meaning (yes, I cried during them, too). We saw Ahsoka’s guilt, thanks to her experiences during the war. Her connections with clones were heartfelt, and their deaths were difficult for her to handle. We see her struggle with being a child soldier and wanting to be more while at the same time working through the fear and guilt of her master’s downfall. This sequence was simply the best part of the series and an all-time Star Wars moment.

6 Great: Hayden Christensen’s Triumphant Return

First Kenobi, Now Ahsoka, Still Awesome

When “Hello, Snips” was said at the end of episode 4, Star Wars fans collectively lost their breath. It was revealed that the rumors were true; Hayden Christensen was back as Anakin Skywalker. Unfortunately, we would all have to wait a week to see what would happen, and what we got was glorious. Christensen’s return as Anakin was a massive success and has become a beloved sight for fans, following his initial return in the Obi-Wan Kenobi TV show. He has been able to reclaim his character and receive the love he deserves.

Dawson and Christensen’s chemistry was reminiscent of Ashley Eckstein and Matt Lanter’s as their characters progressed through Ahsoka’s mind in the World Between Worlds to help us understand what Ahsoka is struggling with: her fear that her connection to Anakin has corrupted her and her shame associated with his fall to the dark side. Ahsoka clearly wants to be something more than just what Anakin made her, almost wanting to give up fighting altogether. In the following sequence, manifesting a strong resemblance to Rebels’ “Twilight of the Apprentice,” Ahsoka chooses to live and becomes something more.

5 Great: Ahsoka’s Gandalf-Esque Ascension

Her Ascension Is A Testament To Her Character

After conquering her fears and doubts with the help of her master in the World Between Worlds, Ahsoka was born again. She was no longer Ahsoka the Gray, but now Ahsoka the White. Her character evolves from a wandering ronin to a true force for good, one who is at peace with herself and her past, creating a perfect balance within herself. Like Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings, Ahsoka’s “death” gave her a moment in time to become her highest form: a true Jedi – and as Dave Filloni once explained to Dagobah Dispatch, one committed to what she is doing.

I really wanted Ahsoka to be a wanderer, a ronin… and her struggle is really that of: Who is she really meant to be… now that, you know… her whole world collapsed… not just that the Jedi Order fell apart, but that her mentor became one of the most evil people in the galaxy… And I never showed her deal with that. So, understanding that she would have these second thoughts about herself or hesitations that she should be a mentor, I thought, this is kind of like Gandalf; he’s not fully committed to the task. He thinks he is, but he’s not. And so I wanted a character that we could watch have that transformation, where she fully accepts, not just what she was, but what her path was about.

Ahsoka the White proves to be a stark contrast to the Ahsoka in the first four episodes and her earlier appearance in The Mandalorian. Now, she is more confident in what she is determined to do. She also acquires this new positivity that has not been seen since Eckstein’s Rebels portrayal. This positivity allows her to take risks she never would before and has freed up her fighting style. At the end of the series, Ahsoka remarks that even though she and Sabine are stuck on Peridea, Ezra is now home. This is Ahsoka in her highest form, Ahsoka the White.

Rosario Dawson remarked that this transformation is Ahsoka’s graduation and she is now a true Jedi.

4 Not-So-Great: The New Republic’s Incompetence

It’s Amazing How Sloppy The New Government Is

This is not a criticism of the show overall, but of Disney’s efforts to find ways to implement reasoning as to why the First Order would come to fruition. The New Republic’s arrogance towards Thrawn’s return and vindictiveness towards Hera was extremely frustrating. The Mandalorian has also been doing this, as both shows have attempted to portray the New Republic as an incompetent re-organization of the government full of Imperial sympathizers throughout the galaxy.

Scenes like the factories on Corellia secretly working for Morgan Elsbeth while under New Republic rule or the New Republic’s attempt at court-martialing Hera are hard to stomach. The purpose of Disney’s use of this is clear; they are justifying the creation and existence of the First Order in the sequel trilogy. While I understand this, it still really bothers me.

3 Not-So-Great: The Show Suffers From Poor Pacing

A Slow Start, Followed By A Filler, Concluding With A Rushed Finale

The biggest issue I, and many fans and critics, had with this series was that the story went too slow or fast over eight episodes. The show got off to a pretty slow start and was inconsistent at times surrounding how the story was being told. This ended up culminating with episode 3 feeling like a filler more than an actual part of the story.

Episodes 4 and 5 were perfect, but then episodes 6 and 7 took time to set up episode 8. This created a rushed ending while leaving us on a poorly designed cliffhanger. The manner in which the pacing was handled is the second-biggest thing that bothers me, because it correlates with my biggest issue: the ending.

2 Not-So-Great: Another Rough Finale For Disney’s Star Wars

Ahsoka’s Conclusion Felt Rushed, Had Questionable Story Choices

We are beginning to have too many examples of live-action Star Wars shows bombing the finale. This finale, in particular, suffered due to the two prior episodes being used as the setup. Those episodes took their time, and the story’s pacing fell behind when we reached the last episode, which sped through everything. Yes, Ezra got to return home to reunite with Hera, but Ahsoka and Sabine were left behind. Not to mention, Thrawn also succeeded in his return to the galaxy.

This rushed, poorly crafted cliffhanger was created to set up season 2. Unfortunately, the writing does not work here. The fighting sequences and the exposition show where all the characters end up took most of the episode. With all this happening in such a short amount of time, it was just a poorly done finale that left me unsatisfied.

1 Not-So-Great: Sabine’s Arc Was Problematic

Questionable Choices And Questionable Writing

I loved Sabine Wren in Star Wars Rebels, but her arc in this series did not sit well with me. We learn that after Rebels, she had a short stint as Ahsoka’s Padawan, which ended quickly. We also find out that her family was annihilated during the Great Purge of Mandalore, leaving her a recluse rotting with guilt. The once enthusiastic artist and warrior is now a shell of her former self, not wanting to deal with anyone or anything. That was until Ahsoka came along with a way to find Ezra.

During this series, Sabine would, predictably, survive a lightsaber stab wound through the gut (that she probably shouldn’t have). This was the first in a series of predictably disappointing moments in Sabine’s arc as she goes with Ahsoka to find Ezra to redeem herself. She allowed herself to be taken prisoner to see Ezra after believing Ahsoka to be dead and inexplicably gained Force abilities that many fans didn’t think she earned. Even though there are theories and explanations surrounding this, I agree that Sabine Force pushing Ezra to the ship from that distance in the finale was utterly ridiculous.

All in all, I still love Sabine for the character she is. She’s an incredible Mandalorian warrior and artist who was mentally trapped with depression because of everything that happened to her off-screen while still reeling from Ezra’s departure. That said, I believe that her arc in this series was not only the weakest, but also problematic. While Ahsoka was training Sabine, I understood it from the angle of learning to sword fight properly, but never did I think she would become a Force wielder. This is something I still struggle with.

The Ahsoka series is among the better seasons of live-action Star Wars content Disney has produced. However, it still suffered from poor pacing, a weak finale, and questionable story choices. Great characters and elements added to the series intermingled perfectly for Star Wars Rebels season 5. This series also provided one of the most memorable moments in Star Wars lore between Ahsoka and Anakin in the World Between Worlds. I am beyond excited about the eventual Ahsoka season 2 as we explore more of Ahsoka the White.