Ahsoka (Full Series Review)

Star Wars has spent a number of years not having theatrical releases but making a mark in the world streaming after the behemoth hit that is The Mandalorian. Since the success of the serialized introduction to a galaxy far, far, away, Disney is sticking with making a lot of the projects they wanted to develop to movies into TV shows due to their mixed reactions of The Rise of Skywalker, with some being more interesting than others. Ahsoka, like The Mandalorian, was overseen by George Lucas' padawan, Dave Filoni by making obscure parts of the franchise known. 

Ahsoka in particular, not only brings a beloved character to live-action but pays homage to both those animated shows she was featured in. Like the last season of The Mandalorian, the show deals with the events were left Rebels fans hungry for,  and many years later, we finally get the answers we have been waiting for. The show works more like a live-action season of Rebels. Bringing back fan-favorite characters like Ahsoka, Hera, and Sabine, Filoni gets to finally play with the sandbox of characters we never thought we would see again. 

The one problem that could arise or at least is how relevant characters in this show like Ahsoka to audiences who have not seen the Clone Wars nor the Rebels shows, which makes it hard to watch this show specifically. Ahsoka is more of a love letter to those animated shows and there is a high chance that the audience will be lost to references or established character development from those animated shows when they click on the first episode. Despite the actors bringing their own take to the characters in the performances that could appeal to audiences not familiar with the Filoniverse, it did manage to give longtime fans whiplash. There was no way for this show to please everybody. 

As a fan or at least someone who did catch up with Filoni's animated shows, appreciation will probably stem there with so much more than just the characters. Episode 5 itself will please Clone Wars fans, while also providing yet another deep dive as to how messed up the Jedi Council was but on a more obvious note Ahsoka is a continuation of what happens in Rebels, as previously said, with the hopes of finding Ezra and the place he finds himself lost in. The characters we see here can be perceived as changed due to their current places in the New Republic and also that they have gotten older but there are times - in the first 3 episodes at least - when you will question whether characters like Hera or Sabine or even, Ahsoka are as similar to their animated counterparts. As the show gradually progresses, that concern dissipates as audiences are given more time to understand who they have become since the last time we saw them. 

We are also introduced to new characters such as Baylon Skoll, a former Jedi, and his apprentice Shi  Hati who is a new facet to how force bearers judge the ways of Jedi. Baylon and Shi aren't exactly members of the Sith, even if they are carrying red lightsabers. They are more accurately dark JeJedisas Baylon does still follow the Jedi ways but only to his expense, avoiding the pressure and nonsense that made Jedi's the self-reighteous guardians-of-false-peace they were. 

The main thing that can be taken away from this show is that Fitoni on the driving force in Star Wars storytelling, he very much knows what die-hard fans want. Not only in the case of bringing back beloved characters while improving others but also by taking risks with storytelling. In my opinion, the last time Star Wars took a big risk was with The Last Jedi, but that didn't get the response they wanted. With the shows, however, that seems to be a different and interesting story

Mandalorian proved itself to be set apart from - or at least it started out that way - the main Star Wars conflict, proving that stories outside the Skywalker Saga can be successful. Andor then, proved that Star Wars can go harder in themes of storytelling and writing by o having a plot that had nothing to do with Lightsabers or the force whatsoever. Ahsoka returns to form with the mysticism of the universe but tries to take the risks the sequel trilogy attempted but manmanages execute it well. A factor could be that it involves characters from the Filoniverse but what is introduced or established in this show, is very much straying away from a lot of beliefs that fans wanted to keep around and what J.J. Abrams thought would please the same fans. Whether these people watch Ahsoka or not is another thing because not many people are familiar with the Filoniverse of Star Wars but it is very much working in richening this lore once again.