Highlights
The Ahsoka finale delivers stunning Star Wars action with Force leaps, sword-wielding witches, and zombie Stormtroopers, leaving viewers impressed.
Despite its shaky beginning, Ahsoka has delivered exceptional Star Wars content, showcasing flawless action sequences although its storytelling may have some shortcomings. The finale of Ahsoka, while not conclusive, presents a satisfying climactic battle and breathtaking visual effects, laying the groundwork for future storylines in the series.
Warning: The following review contains spoilers for the finale of Ahsoka.
Although it may not offer a definitive conclusion to the series, the Ahsoka finale showcases brilliantly directed Star Wars action that is truly captivating. Titled "Part Eight: The Jedi, the Witch, and the Warlord" (a clever reference to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe), the Ahsoka finale features the titular ronin teaming up with Sabine and Ezra to prevent Grand Admiral Thrawn from reemerging in the main galaxy. Despite leaving the story with a cliffhanger and lacking a definitive resolution, this episode is filled with exciting elements such as Force leaps, sword-wielding witches, and even zombie Stormtroopers. It's difficult to find any faults with such a thrilling installment.
The first four episodes of Ahsoka were disappointingly dull and disjointed, resulting in a rocky start for the series. However, it quickly improved from there. From the captivating Clone Wars flashback to Thrawn's entrance filled with terror, Ahsoka has showcased some of the finest Star Wars content in recent memory. While "Part Eight" doesn't serve as a satisfactory conclusion, it doesn't attempt to be one either. Instead, it postpones the ending for a future storyline, leaving viewers eagerly anticipating what's to come. "The Jedi, the Witch, and the Warlord" embodies the general consensus of the series - flawed storytelling intertwined with impeccable action sequences.
Although the actual resolution of the story may not fully satisfy audiences, the climactic battle delivers the desired action that Star Wars fans crave. Director Rick Famuyiwa, who has honed his skills while working on The Mandalorian, expertly crafts mind-blowing action sequences that effectively convey the magnitude of the villains' threat and the triumph of the heroes. The battle commences with a captivating scene inspired by westerns, as Ahsoka, Sabine, and Ezra boldly ride towards Thrawn's location on horseback, skillfully evading cannon fire from the imposing Star Destroyer looming above. However, this is just the beginning, as this episode's action continues to escalate beyond expectations.
The horseback chase is followed by an exhilarating Stormtrooper massacre, which would be an awe-inspiring and intense scene on its own. While Ezra's Force-based combat was intriguing last week, it is truly a delight to see him wielding a lightsaber once again. This massacre concludes with a triumphant shot of Ahsoka, brandishing her blades with finesse, effortlessly dispatching the last two Night Troopers. However, the atmosphere suddenly shifts, resembling a haunted house movie, as the undead Night Troopers rise again and pursue Ahsoka, Sabine, and Ezra up a winding staircase within a dimly lit castle.
This sets the stage for an electrifying rematch between Ahsoka and Morgan Elsbeth. While Ezra leaps with the Force onto Thrawn's Star Destroyer, Sabine remains behind to defend against the Night Troopers and create space for Ahsoka to defeat Elsbeth. Similar to their initial duel in The Mandalorian, this rematch possesses the grace and beauty of a Kurosawa samurai standoff, except this time Elsbeth possesses witch-like powers and wields the magical Blade of Talzin.
Just like the prior seven episodes, the Ahsoka finale showcases stunning visual effects seamlessly intertwined with live-action footage. The VFX shots are sharp and seamless, featuring lifelike lighting and captivating camera movements. Having a background in animation, Dave Filoni skillfully weaves computer-generated imagery into storytelling. He also cleverly incorporates classic scene transitions, integrating them into the blocking. As Sabine and Ezra trail Ahsoka off-screen, a diagonal wipe sweeps Ezra out of the frame, unveiling Thrawn in his majestic splendor.
"The Jedi, the Witch, and the Warlord" may not have been a disappointing conclusion, but it did leave several storylines unresolved, giving it a somewhat anticlimactic feel. The true intentions of Baylan Skoll remain unclear, although there is an impressive shot of Skoll literally standing on the shoulders of a giant. Additionally, Shin Hati has yet to be swayed to the light side. Despite being labeled as a limited series rather than a season 1, this episode strongly resembled a season 1 finale, setting the stage for a more thrilling season 2. Regardless, season 1 has laid a solid foundation, making the prospect of season 2 all the more enticing.
That's not to say the finale lacks closure entirely. There is some closure when Ahsoka and Sabine successfully bring Ezra back to his own galaxy, but now they find themselves stranded in a different one. Essentially, this episode turns the ending of Rebels on its head. Once again, Ezra is left to confront Thrawn while his friends remain stuck in another galaxy. However, this time they have switched galaxies. Furthermore, there is closure for Ahsoka as she reconciles her mixed feelings about Anakin's past mistakes by reminiscing about his best quality: unwavering support for her, even during times when no one else stood by her side. This realization inspires her to stand by Sabine, while Anakin's ghost proudly observes from a distance. (Filoni couldn't have ended the season on a more uplifting note than with the ghostly presence of Hayden Christensen, watching his resourceful apprentice with a warm smile).
Ahsoka
"Part Eight: The Jedi, the Witch, and the Warlord" - Ahsoka, Sabine, and Ezra race to stop Grand Admiral Thrawn from returning to the main galaxy.
