Highlights
Ahsoka brings back the classic feel of Star Wars with its colorful characters, action scenes, and campy musical score.
Dave Filoni's direction and pacing in the two-part premiere of the show exhibit strength, effectively capturing the characters' essence and the vast Star Wars universe. Ahsoka, played by Rosario Dawson, delivers a captivating performance that is filled with energy. Additionally, the supporting live-action characters and droids contribute to the show's overall depth and bring added personality to the narrative.
Caution: This review contains minor spoilers for the two-episode debut of Ahsoka.
Ahsoka brings back the essence of classic Star Wars with its vibrant characters, thrilling action sequences, and nostalgic musical score. Dave Filoni's long-awaited Ahsoka solo story begins with an impressive two-episode premiere, showcasing his unique creative vision. Unlike many modern franchise projects that seem to lack individuality, Ahsoka feels like a show driven by a single visionary. Although the storyline, centered around the search for a MacGuffin that reveals the location of another MacGuffin, may appear arbitrary, it serves as a perfect opportunity to reunite Ahsoka with her comrades.
Filoni, after trying his hand at directing live-action with episodes of The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, is now fully confident behind the camera. His mastery in directing the pilot episode, titled "Part One: Master and Apprentice," is one of the show's greatest strengths. He skillfully controls the pacing, develops the characters, and knows exactly where to position the camera. In the second episode, titled "Part Two: Toil and Trouble," Steph Green takes the director's seat and equally impresses with her ability to balance action and character development. Green, renowned for directing the Wade Tillman episode of HBO's Watchmen miniseries, is equally invested in exploring the characters' relationships and motivations alongside the spectacular space opera spectacle surrounding them.
The series owes much of its success to the electrifying performance of Rosario Dawson as the title character. Dawson effortlessly embodies Ahsoka, exuding a confident swagger and capturing her zen-like spirit as she gracefully handles challenges and approaches new experiences and people with warm curiosity. Dawson is supported by two other exceptional live-action portrayals of beloved animated characters: Natasha Liu Bordizzo flawlessly embodies Sabine Wren's rebellious attitude, while Mary Elizabeth Winstead taps into Hera Syndulla's maternal instincts as she navigates conflicts among less mature individuals.
In the series premiere, we are introduced to two captivating villains: the late and esteemed Ray Stevenson (to whom the first episode is dedicated) portraying the shamelessly evil Baylan Skoll, a Jedi-turned-mercenary, and Ivanna Sakhno as Shin Hati, his cold-hearted yet conflicted sidekick. Alongside them, we have Huyang, Ahsoka's companion voiced by the talented David Tennant, and Chopper, Hera's loyal partner voiced by Filoni himself. These droid characters in Ahsoka shine brightly with their unique personalities.
Kevin Kiner's score for Ahsoka pushes the boundaries of Star Wars music, building on the iconic work of Ludwig Göransson on The Mandalorian. The music seamlessly blends sweeping Star Wars orchestrations with delightful piano melodies, adding a campy quality to the show's soundtrack. Sinister brass notes create an unnerving twist, evoking the image of a villain chasing an unsuspecting hero. Electric guitar licks and thumping drum beats perfectly capture Sabine's reckless and rebellious personality as she's chased on a speeder bike. Kiner's score gives Ahsoka its own unique musical identity while staying true to the familiar Star Wars canon.
Ahsoka's visuals are absolutely stunning. Unlike typical CGI in TV shows which often looks cheap, Ahsoka's CGI is so impressive that it could easily be mistaken for theatrical movie quality. The breathtaking Lothal skyline and detailed starship shots in space are filled with rich details and subtle lighting tricks. The use of The Volume technology is seamlessly integrated, far less obvious compared to its presence in Obi-Wan Kenobi and The Book of Boba Fett. Thanks to the talents of Quyen Tran and Eric Steelberg, Ahsoka's cinematographers, the series has a convincing sense of scope and scale. Unlike Obi-Wan Kenobi, the lightsabers in Ahsoka don't overwhelm with their blinding glow but instead feature the understated hue reminiscent of the original movies, particularly Ahsoka's own signature white blades.
Ahsoka openly reflects the spirit of Rebels in its live-action iteration while remaining accessible to newcomers. Brief exposition lines bring those unfamiliar with the animated series up to speed, and the narrative itself shines as a standalone Star Wars undertaking. With a trio of strong, confident, and fiercely autonomous female characters leading the way, Ahsoka becomes a Star Wars series that finally caters to and inspires young girls, offering them a team of admirable heroes.
The initial episodes of Ahsoka may not bring any fresh tonal or thematic elements like Andor, but they sufficiently renew confidence in the Star Wars franchise following the somewhat underwhelming experience of The Mandalorian season 3. Ahsoka's debut swiftly reintroduces beloved characters such as Hera and Sabine, while also providing an abundance of engaging action sequences to alleviate lengthy explanations. And this is merely the start; fans of Star Wars can anticipate six additional thrilling episodes ahead.
