‘Ahsoka’ Review: “Freaky Good Star Wars”

Ahsoka is a show that has been highly anticipated. Not just because the world craves more Ahsoka Tano, but because once the show started being rumored, we knew the question, “Where’s Ezra?” was finally going to be answered. That question has been on Star Wars fans’ lips since Star Wars: Rebels ended in 2018. The desire from fans has always been for a sequel series to happen in animation, honoring the original. That was what I always wanted as well. I am happy to say, though, the translation of these beloved characters from animation to live-action, is some good Star Wars.

Ahsoka begins with an actual opening crawl. A first for Star Wars shows, the crawl gives us some important background information on the New Republic, Grand Admiral Thrawn, and the Imperial Remnants. It also bridges the gap between The Mandalorian Season 2, Episode 5, and now. It’s connecting us to where Morgan Elsbeth (Diana Lee Inosanto) and Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson) are at. The show brings some much-needed alien representation back to the screen, and the makeup – so far – looks superb. It’s important that it does, with two of the main characters, Hera (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and Ahsoka, being aliens.

Hera’s makeup and costume look much better on screen, but I wish they would have put some dark green contour on her. Aliens have a face shape, and Hera’s in animation is superb! Additionally, the changes to Ahsoka’s lekku from The Mandalorian make her look so much better. Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo) looks fantastic – her hair and armor are stunningly accurate.

In terms of the cast for Ahsoka, Bordizzo is by far the best part of the show. She has taken care of Sabine Wren, and brought her to life as a more mature version than the one we knew in Star Wars: Rebels. She’s articulate, pulling off the brash artist who’s been broken by the ones she trusted the most. Besides Hera, of course. Hera has stayed as the mom of the group, even going so far as to be the mom friend Ahsoka needs. Winstead is fantastic as Hera, doing precisely what she needs to in order to capture the role. She’s got the dialogue attributes of Hera, and it feels like we never left her behind. Her piloting scene with Chopper was perfection, hitting all the banter we’re accustomed to.

Baylan Skoll (Ray Stevenson) is intriguing and builds tension with the depth of his character. A former Jedi, turned mercenary, swearing he’s not a Jedi any longer with his orange blade. But, he has an apprentice in Shin Hati (Ivanna Sakhno), padawan braid and all. What do they define themselves as? From The High Republic, and even The Clone Wars, we know there are force user groups that do not identify as Sith or Jedi. Despite this fact, those two are the only ones who use lightsabers, and the master and apprentice duo definitely knows how to use them. Morgan Elsbeth continues to be built up as a fascinating villain and cohort of Thrawn’s.

Huyang (David Tennant) being in this show was something I never knew I needed, but I am 100% glad he’s here. Tennant is a delight and provides a much-needed voice of reason and perspective on the way things are going. He’s over 25,000 years old, the droid has experienced everything, and it shows. The effects on him are a little wonky sometimes, but it’s something consistent in the Disney+ shows so far. And it’s just proof only so many directors can shoot properly on the volume. It’s a limitation in the Star Wars shows that use it. Episode two director Steph Green seems to have figured it out, but episode one director, writer, and showrunner Dave Filoni still has some work to do.

Dawson is showcasing an Ahsoka that has grown, but learned the wrong things from her experiences in the Jedi Order trying to adopt Sabine as an apprentice. She’s not the same Ahsoka from The Clone Wars, or even Rebels. There are experiences she’s had that we’re missing, and I hope we get to know those in some way. Hopefully in the latter half of the season or some other way from Lucasfilm. She’s grown as a force user, with some interesting new powers on display that harken back to Legends time. With what we know in the trailers, I’m excited to see Sabine open up and learn.

Ahsoka is the next show to build the timeline between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens. It’s also the first time Filoni has taken complete reins of a full live-action television series. I’ve had my complaints with some of his work, but he has made me a believer again. The way he’s tied the lore together (with plenty of cameos) and built up the characters is astonishing. The story work is perfect. The biggest question this show will have to face is if some poor visual effects and the volume will get in the way of their enjoyment of some of the most special characters bringing their friend home. Ahsoka isn’t looking to be the best of the best to win awards. Instead, it’s looking to simply be freaky good Star Wars. –Katie Rentschler

Rating: 9/10

The first two episodes of Ahsoka will be available at 9 pm EST tonight on Disney+.