Ahsoka Review Episode 1-2: A New Beginning of The Force? On Disney Plus
Cast: Rosario Dawson, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Ray Winstone, Ivanna Sakhno, Diana Lee Ilosanto, David Tennant, Lars Mikkelsen, Eman Esfandi
Created By: Dave Filoni
Streaming Platform: Disney+
Filmyhype.com Ratings: 4/5 (four stars) [yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]
Ahsoka debuts with a double premiere that has largely thrilled and excited us, ready to bring new life into Star Wars. Always at the beginning, we had mentioned the bizarre situation that had arisen around the Star Wars brand during the years of the sequel trilogy, as a large part of the fanbase was convinced that the far distant galaxy was in a sort of limbo, of creative bankruptcy. The same schemes were reused, the same themes and the same characters were sometimes distorted for no real reason; in short, we do not believe, for example, that it would be inappropriate to state that Episode VII was nothing more than a revised version of A New Hope. Andor – but as The Mandalorian had already partially done -took this feeling head-on and annihilated it, demonstrating what is possible to accomplish with such a name behind it.
Mind you, we are not that naive, we know perfectly well that this was only achieved because it was a minor part of the franchise and therefore Disney was more open to some experimentation. Why a preamble genre? Because even Ahsoka destroys that rather superficial position, although she does it very differently from Andor: the new Star Wars series, which will land on Disney+ on August 23 and of which we were able to preview the first two episodes, wants to demonstrate that it is still feasible to churn out great productions using all the classic stylistic features of Star Wars. Ahsoka is 100% Star Wars, from pace to atmosphere, and the premiere, therefore, satisfied us fully.
Ahsoka Review Episode 1-2: The Story Plot
Set in the same period as The Mandalorian – it is no coincidence that the fifth episode of the second season constitutes a prologue to all intents and purposes – and therefore about 5 years after the events of The Return of the Jedi and above all of Star Wars Rebels, Ahsoka sees the protagonist (interpreted, indeed masterfully embodied by Rosario Dawson) still on the trail of Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen), given the increasingly insistent rumors that want him to return to the galaxy as heir to the Empire – we will never tire of underlining the wonderful reference to the novel that introduced him to the Star Wars universe, titled precisely Heir To The Empire. After learning from Morgan Elsbeth (Diana Lee Inosanto) the existence of a map that could lead her to Thrawn’s current location, Ahsoka immediately embarks on this dangerous mission, knowing she needs the help of an old acquaintance, The Mandalorian and his ex-Padawan Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo, also remarkably part).
However, she is not the only one on the trail of the aforementioned map, as two strange figures who are very interested and linked to Elsbeth immediately enter the game, namely Baylan Skoll (the late Ray Stevenson) and her pupil Shin Hati (Ivanna Sakhno), nor Jedi nor Sith. And we wanted to underline how much this series has reminded us of Star Wars in its most classic form because it uses many of its key tools: a simple but direct story as well as immediately framed by an opening text, a rhythm that doesn’t want to stop while using right moments for the introspection and psychological deepening of its protagonists, a threat made clear in the very first minutes and well before introducing the heroes.
Ahsoka Review Episode 1-2 and Analysis
Many small details that will make longtime fans feel at home, but which surprisingly do not detract from the uniqueness of Ahsoka, a series capable of affording such a debut since it is very trivially the continuation of a story interrupted 5 years ago with the fourth and final season of Rebels. You don’t get lost in lengthiness or exaggerated character introductions, there aren’t infinite forced dialogues that recall past events, you immediately start at the center of the action and the gravity of the stakes is clear. Just as the characterizations of the key characters are extraordinarily clear, at the center of exquisitely dramatic dialogue sequences full of tension, where every line carries other meanings – the conversations between Ahsoka and Sabine are great in this one.
If we then add good attention dedicated to the action scenes and effects finally worthy in a Disney production, the game is done, and the new series entirely written by Dave Filoni has conquered us. Also noteworthy is the abandonment of the now a little too static and horizontal structure of The Mandalorian in favor of a more complete, broad, and natural plot, with an extra touch of gloom and maturity compared to the adventures of Din Djarin. The only bugbear that the premiere has brought to mind is the evident desire to deeply expand the Star Wars lore, a desire to be managed with caution and precision before it gets out of control.
The character’s journey seems more linked to people than to events. And so, the characters of Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo) and Hera Syndulla (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) immediately acquire importance, well known to the most passionate fans of the franchise and who here assume particular roles that will somehow guide the choices and actions of Ahsoka herself, compared to this heroic that the protagonist is still called to perform. We are witnessing for the first time a Star Wars show in which the protagonist cast is completely female, in which fights and laser Spaders return in profusion, and above all the magical/mystical element that has always been a distinctive feature of the series returns: the eternal struggle between the Dark Side and the Light Side of the Force, in search of the coveted Balance.
While there are a lot of lightsabers, battles, and spaceships in the first two episodes previewed, the heart of Ahsoka is her character. Rosario Dawson can give her character a commanding and charismatic, yet unnerving presence. And fans won’t miss the precision with which the actress has brought the Togrutan fighter to life, from the way she delivers her sentences to the rhythm of her words to her precise movements during fights. Furthermore, the series is the spokesperson for a very complex node in the franchise, including the protagonist’s ties to her master Anakin and her apprentice Sabine. From a visual point of view, the series seems to be more on the side of The Mandalorian, with more intrusive sci-fi settings than a realistic approach which is and will be the one dedicated to Andor, for example, and this may be a factor that traditionalist fans will appreciate.
It is certain that Star Wars: Ahsoka was made for those who already love the character and want to see her grappling with the past and the future, carrying on her choice of medium, and telling a little more of her fascinating story so closely connected to the major events that form the backbone of the Star Wars franchise. Rosario Dawson’s Ahsoka could be a perfect example of what the state of the franchise is today: elusive, at times uncertain, and looking to the past, but present and persevering, ready to face the future. Will the fans be patient enough to welcome all the stories to come?
It is understood that the remaining episodes could prove us wrong, the impression left by the first two chapters is that Filoni, working completely alone without his partner Jon Favreau and signing the screenplay of the entire miniseries (and the direction of the first episode), is perfectly in his element by being able to continue to tell the stories he started, rather than acting as a guest in the narrative territories of his colleagues. And if in recent years, especially with the serial events of Boba Fett and Obi-Wan Kenobi, there was an inkling of a clumsy approach by those who had had to convert ideas for feature films into longer stories for streaming, here it is clear that the author, who has always been accustomed to the rhythms and structures of the small screen, has a precise plan in mind to further explore Ahsoka‘s story, the character he created almost twenty years ago and knows how to handle better than anyone.
And it does so with all the right ingredients to please fans of animated productions, including the return of Kevin Kiner for the music, but also knowing that it is necessary to meet those who have not followed the whole story (including previous live appearances). A delicate balance, but it at least in this first hour and a half gives back to the franchise that epic dimension that had recently been a bit watered down. but also knowing that it is necessary to meet those who have not followed the whole story (including the previous live-action appearances of the protagonist). A delicate balance, but it at least in this first hour and a half gives back to the franchise that epic dimension that had recently been a bit watered down. but also knowing that it is necessary to meet those who have not followed the whole story (including the previous live-action appearances of the protagonist). A delicate balance, but it at least in this first hour and a half gives back to the franchise that epic dimension that had recently been a bit watered down.
Ahsoka Review Episode 1-2: The Last Words
Making long rounds of words would make little sense: Ahsoka‘s premiere won us over completely and seems to be the most natural possible continuation of the never too discussed Star Wars Rebels. And as such, paradoxically, it has no real beginning, as Ahsoka throws the viewer directly into the center of the action, immediately making it clear what the dramatic stakes are if a return of Thrawn occurs. There are no delays, and there are no dialogues that want to hold the viewer by the hand, in short, no time is wasted, and the pace as well as the atmosphere gain enormously, getting very close to the classic Star Wars. Ahsoka is adventure, she is action, she is imminent danger, it is a wonderful work on the characters that we have admired for years in animated productions – from casting to characterization – and, having abandoned the perhaps too horizontal formula of The Mandalorian, it gives life to a story that immediately captures the viewer. But above all, he is not afraid to expand the Star Wars lore, although such intent must be managed with a certain intelligence.
Ahsoka Review Episode 1-2: A New Beginning of The Force? On Disney Plus - Filmyhype
Director: Dave Filoni
Date Created: 2023-08-23 14:17
4
Pros
- Rosario Dawson's performance as Ahsoka Tano
- The action sequences
- The visual effects
- The exploration of the post-Return of the Jedi galaxy
- The themes of hope, loss, and redemption
Cons
- The pacing of the show
- The lack of development for some of the supporting characters
- The show's reliance on fan service
