April 29, 2024

208 episodes of The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels. Three Tales of the Jedi shorts. Two episodes of The Mandalorian and The Ebook of Boba Fett. One film. That is every thing you will must see to actually perceive every thing happening within the new Ahsoka sequence on Disney+. For Star Wars diehards, particularly these raised on the animated exhibits spearheaded by Ahsoka creator Dave Filoni, it is every thing they’ve hoped for. Everybody else, although, could discover themselves adrift.

Ahsoka deftly brings animated characters to reside motion — Rosario Dawson stays a beguiling Ahsoka, and she or he’s joined by Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Hera Syndulla, and Natasha Liu Bordezzo because the impulsive Sabine Wren — and it wastes no time introducing intriguing villains (particularly Baylan Skoll, a former Jedi portrayed by the late Ray Stevenson). The sequence is a direct sequel to Rebels in nearly each manner. However whereas that is nice information for followers, the draw back is that newcomers to the broader Rebels verse, even those that’ve seen Ahsoka in The Mandalorian and The Ebook of Boba Fett, can have a tough time discovering any emotional stakes.

Rosario Dawson in Ahsoka on Disney+.

Photograph by Lucasfilm

With the earlier reside motion Star Wars TV exhibits (together with the enjoyable-yet-unneccessary Obi-Wan Kenobi sequence), Filoni and co-producer Jon Favreau tried to ease common audiences into deeper points of Star Wars lore. That was most profitable within the first season of The Mandalorian, which was full of new characters and easy emotional stakes. (Shield Child Yoda, it doesn’t matter what it takes!) However Filoni finally managed to usher in some characters from his animated exhibits, together with the nefarious bounty hunter Cad Bane.

For higher or worse, Ahsoka looks like a riskier undertaking than most of these different reside motion exhibits. Virtually everybody refers to occasions and main characters from Rebels, with out explaining a lot about who they’re. We all know that Grand Admiral Thrawn looks as if a significant new antagonist, however the present by no means says why. We later be taught that Ahsoka is pushed to seek out him as a result of which will reveal the placement of Ezra Bridger, the principle character of Rebels who disappeared on the finish of that sequence. Sabine and Ahsoka share some pensive moments reflecting on their misplaced good friend, however we do not get a lot about their shared relationship past that.

Ray Stevenson in Ahsoka on Disney+.

Photograph by Lucasfilm

At instances watching Ahsoka is like being invited to a celebration the place everybody else are outdated mates, and who refuse to clarify their in-jokes or shared historical past. It isn’t their downside if you happen to’re not having as a lot enjoyable as them. Cope with it. I had comparable points with The Mandalorian’s third season relying an excessive amount of on The Ebook of Boba Fett, however a minimum of these have been exhibits airing in shut proximity. Ahsoka hinges on direct continuity from an animated sequence that started in 2014 and ran for 4 years.

After all, the sequence could get higher down the road. Ahsoka is Filoni’s child, in any case, and he is too gifted of a storyteller to have her tread water for a season. And I will admit, even the superb Andor took a couple of episodes to essentially rev issues up. I simply hope this present weaves character motivations into its plot extra successfully transferring ahead.

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