The Mandalorian Revolutionizes Ahsoka's Episode Lengths, Sparking Massive Excitement!
Ahsoka's episode lengths in The Mandalorian are receiving unnecessary criticism Learn why these runtimes are not an issue and explore the discourse surrounding them Gain a fresh perspective on this topic
Summary
Concerns about Ahsoka's reported runtimes are misplaced, as The Mandalorian has already shown that episode length does not determine quality.
The rumored duration for the initial two episodes of Ahsoka is approximately 54 and 42 minutes, respectively, with the third episode reported to be 34 minutes long. Criticizing the show based on its shorter runtime is unfounded, as evaluating its potential solely based on episode length, even before its release, is unreasonable. The Mandalorian has already demonstrated that longer episodes do not necessarily guarantee superior quality.
The reported runtimes for Ahsoka should not be a cause for concern, as The Mandalorian has already proven. Since the introduction of original content on Disney+, runtimes have received significant scrutiny from fans. Whether it is in the Star Wars universe or the efforts of Marvel Studios, the length of individual episodes has often been used as a measure of quality by a large portion of the fanbase.
This was evident throughout the recent seasons of The Mandalorian and the release of the MCU's Secret Invasion. However, the belief that longer episodes equate to higher quality, and shorter episodes indicate the opposite, is often misguided. This judgment is typically made before episodes are released. The same trend is now occurring with the upcoming Ahsoka series, with many criticizing the reported runtimes of the first three episodes. However, this criticism has already been disproven by The Mandalorian itself.
Ahsoka’s First Three Episodes Runtimes Are Reportedly Confirmed
The runtimes for the first three episodes of Ahsoka, set to release on August 23, 2023, have been confirmed. Initially, the runtimes for the first two episodes were revealed, with the first episode running just over 54 minutes and the second episode running around 42 minutes. Subsequently, the runtime for the third episode was announced to be 34 minutes. These reported runtimes, although subject to change, are expected to be accurate due to their close proximity to the show's premiere.
Why The Mandalorian's Episodes Are So Short (According To The Stars)
In light of recent revelations during runtime, it is worth delving into Disney's other popular Star Wars TV show - The Mandalorian - from the same perspective. The Mandalorian's episodes, which have a shorter duration, have frequently been the subject of criticism, similar to Ahsoka's spiritual prequel. This now applies to the latter show as well. However, the individuals involved in the production of The Mandalorian, particularly Katee Sackhoff, who portrays Bo-Katan Kryze, have addressed these shorter runtimes.
Shortly after the third season of The Mandalorian was released, Sackhoff participated in an interview with director Bryce Dallas Howard on the former's podcast, Blah Blah Blah. During the interview, Sackhoff acknowledged the criticisms regarding the show's shorter episodes and provided insights into why each episode does not exceed 60 minutes, a common expectation among fans.
That’s why I always tell people that 'Mando' is like... They often wonder why it takes us so long to shoot and why the episodes seem so short. But what they don't realize is that there are countless factors at play here that they can't even imagine.
According to Sackhoff, the actress who plays Bo-Katan, the extensive production of the show is what leads to the episodes appearing shorter to fans. The sheer number of people involved in The Mandalorian's production, along with the challenges of coordinating all the different elements, causes the shooting process to take longer. And in Sackhoff's view, this is the reason why both The Mandalorian and potentially Ahsoka have episodes that seem shorter.
The Discourse Surrounding Ashoka’s Runtimes Make No Sense
That being said, it makes no sense to have negative discussions about short runtimes, especially when it comes to Ahsoka. Judging a product solely based on its runtime before it is even released is always a mistake. It is absurd to claim that an episode is not long enough without actually watching and experiencing the story being told.
Furthermore, The Mandalorian has already proven that runtimes do not determine the overall quality of an episode. In season 1, episode 2, which is just under 30 minutes long, it holds a rating of 8.5 on IMDb, which is significantly higher than three other episodes of the season. This demonstrates that quality can be achieved even within shorter runtimes.
To further support this, one of the best episodes in the entire run of The Mandalorian, season 2, episode 6, titled "The Tragedy," is only 29 minutes long without the credits. Despite its shorter length, it received a fan rating of 9.1 on IMDb, making it the fourth highest-rated episode in the show's history.
In contrast, the least well-received episodes of The Mandalorian happened to be the longest ones. The show's two lowest-rated episodes, according to IMDb, are both from season 3. "The Convert," the third episode of season 3, has a rating of 7, while "Guns for Hire," the sixth episode of the same season, holds a rating of 6.4. Strikingly, "The Convert" stands as the longest episode of the entire show, with a duration of 56 minutes, while "Guns for Hire" ranks as the third-longest episode of season 3, running for 44 minutes. This contradicts the notion that longer episodes equate to higher quality, a point proven by The Mandalorian and often overlooked by its fanbase in anticipation of Ahsoka.
