This story comprises spoilers for Star Wars: Ahsoka.
Ahsoka Tano has been in our lives for therefore lengthy at this level that many people — myself included — typically overlook that she wasn’t really well-received to start with of her run in The Clone Wars again in 2008. Over time, although, the reckless however endearing hot-shot padawan of 1 Anakin Skywalker gained the hearts and minds of Star Wars followers the world over.
I’m hoping that may even be the case for Star Wars: Ahsoka.
Frankly, it’s not even that the primary two episodes had been poorly obtained. The collection boasts admirable scores on Rotten Tomatoes and has seen typically optimistic reactions from followers (as soon as once more, myself included). However amongst these optimistic reactions is a lingering sentiment of “what the hell is going on?”
That confusion is a two-fold downside: The primary problem is that since Ahsoka’s story has largely occurred in animation, the live-action collection doesn’t provide the ever-important “previously on” that may give those that hadn’t watched Star Wars Rebels the context that they want. The second is that streaming collection as an entire appear to have forgotten the significance of a pilot episode. (Learn: setting the narrative bedrock for the remainder of your collection.)
For instance, the primary two episodes of the present make it clear that rescuing Ezra Bridger — ought to he be alive — is precedence primary. Ahsoka insists that it’s discovering Thrawn, in fact, however what we see doesn’t actually help that. Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo) doesn’t appear to be involved with Thrawn in any respect, whereas Hera Syndulla (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) simply needs her buddies to get alongside and for the delicate galactic peace they fought so laborious for to stay intact.
The issue is, in the event you didn’t watch Star Wars Rebels, you may have completely no thought who Ezra Bridger is, not to mention why he’s vital. You already know why the characters care about him, in fact. However Ahsoka’s first two episodes do nothing to assist us perceive why we, the viewers, ought to care if he’s discovered once more. From the viewers perspective — at the least for many who didn’t watch Rebels — his narrative goal has concluded.
In the meantime, Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson) is hardly a personality within the first two episodes of what’s purported to be her personal present. She’s simply irritated. And whereas I really like me some cranky girls, you’ve acquired to provide the viewers an understanding of why the character is the place they’re at if “generally annoyed” hasn’t all the time been their default setting. Given the premiere’s reticence to make use of flashbacks to clarify vital Rebels plot-points, I fear that the joy of one thing feeling Star Wars-y will wane because the collection continues to commit a cardinal storytelling sin: telling, however not displaying.
The Franchise Lure
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been persistently criticized about how troublesome it’s for viewers to hop into new tales after years of storytelling. Whereas a few of these complaints are justified, the franchise will usually give at the least some form of base primer for what the viewers must know to know no matter new story is kicking off at a given time. This has additionally led to a different fashionable criticism: story redundancy. It doesn’t matter what you do, some people are going to complain. So it feels just like the wiser transfer can be to assist new followers perceive what’s happening, no?
What’s irritating concerning the lack of wanted context in Ahsoka is that lots of the people who’re confused aren’t new followers. I’m not right here to provide you my complete Star Wars resume, however Mara Jade is my favourite character and I’d just like the Gray Jedi to get their butts again into the primary canon dialog as a result of I’m bored with all this black and white. However, regardless of being comparatively educated in relation to Star Wars as an entire, Rebels is considered one of my few blind spots. (Sure, I’ll get there ultimately.)
And it’s not even a full blind spot! I’ve seen an errant episode or two and sufficient clips to know that I’d die for Hera. I perceive the archetypes that our three leads fill, and why they’re vital to the galaxy as an entire.
What I additionally perceive is that that is meant to be an Ahsoka collection, however, as a result of we’ve forgotten the significance of pilots, she’s barely featured within the first two episodes and we don’t know why she not has any persona to talk of.
It’s actually not a Rosario Dawson downside, both. We’ve seen what she will be able to do on The Mandalorian. So what’s the deal?
All of the Issues Left Unsaid
There’s a clean spot that the entire of the viewers shares, Rebels followers or no. Within the finale of Rebels, Ahsoka and Sabine finish on a mission to seek out Ezra. As we open on Star Wars: Ahsoka, we shortly study that the 2 characters now have beef and are very a lot not working collectively any longer. Hera’s targeted on protecting the peace, however there’s not a lot as a “what happened between the two of you?” from her for the good thing about the viewers with an acknowledgement of the change.
Having the pivotal second of Grogu and Din Djarin’s reunion happen in The Guide of Boba Fett reasonably than The Mandalorian itself proved to be detrimental to that collection’ in any other case strong third season. I fear that Ahsoka is making the identical mistake by being Rebels Season 5 reasonably than Ahsoka Season 1.
No matter whether or not you may have the Rebels context or not, leaving so many issues to off-screen happenings is placing your collection in a tricky spot. Who’s Ezra Bridger? Watch Rebels. Who’re the Witches of Dathomir? Watch The Clone Wars. What’s happening with Ahsoka and Sabine? Who is aware of!
Loads of different franchise tales have lingering questions for many who haven’t watched each entry within the saga. However they’re in a position to present the broad strokes of why particular person particulars matter when the time comes. Ahsoka, thus far, has not efficiently accomplished that process.
Regardless of my fear, I’m hoping the collection centered on our favourite Togruta proves me fallacious ultimately. I really like Ahsoka Tano, and I need to see her, Hera, and Sabine showcased the way in which they deserve. The collection feels like a Star Battle, and it’s good to not hear Tatooine a lot as talked about! The battle choreography is strong and we’ve already gotten a pair lightsaber duels out of the deal. There’s a variety of potential right here! However Star Wars most actually must cease resting on its laurels. I’m not prepared for Ahsoka, Hera, and Sabine to be wasted in one other Guide of Boba Fett state of affairs.
On a ultimate notice — one that’s largely unrelated however must be mentioned — I believe Sabine simply straight up deserted her Loth-cat. It very clearly was not together with her when she acquired on Ahsoka’s ship. I do know they’re fairly self-sufficient animals, however what the hell Sabine?!
Amelia is the leisure Streaming Editor right here at IGN. She’s additionally a movie and tv critic who spends an excessive amount of time speaking about dinosaurs, superheroes, and folks horror. You possibly can normally discover her together with her canine, Rogers. There could also be cheeseburgers concerned. Comply with her throughout social @ThatWitchMia
