Unlocking the Untold Depths of Ahsoka: Why Star Wars Rebels Is Essential

Highlights

It's not necessary to watch Rebels before Ahsoka, but having some familiarity with the key plot points and characters from Rebels can enhance the viewing experience.

Ahsoka continues the storylines introduced in Rebels, focusing on the unresolved mystery surrounding the vanishing of Ezra Bridger. However, newcomers can easily catch up as these key details are briefly summarized in the initial episodes of Ahsoka. The series involves well-known characters from Rebels, such as Sabine Wren, Hera Syndulla, and the formidable antagonist, Grand Admiral Thrawn. Furthermore, it has been confirmed that Ezra Bridger will make an appearance in later episodes of the series.

The recently released Star Wars series, Ahsoka, on Disney+ continues the storylines and character development from the animated show Rebels. However, is it necessary to watch Rebels before diving into Ahsoka? Ahsoka Tano, a character dear to co-creator Dave Filoni, has played a significant role in various Star Wars projects developed by Filoni, including The Clone Wars, Rebels, and The Mandalorian. In Ahsoka, Filoni finally gives the iconic ex-Jedi ronin the spotlight in her own separate adventure. Nevertheless, her solo journey builds upon her previous ensemble adventures with the rest of the Rebels cast. Thus, is it vital to view Rebels before experiencing Ahsoka?

Set in the timeframe between Revenge of the Sith - depicting the Empire's rise - and A New Hope - showcasing the Rebellion's first significant victory - Rebels revolves around the crew of the Ghost, a light freighter undertaking covert missions against the spreading Imperial forces. From a narrative standpoint, Ahsoka parallels the events of Rebels' fifth season in live-action format, reintroducing beloved characters and continuing unresolved plotlines. However, Ahsoka has its own distinctive story. The Ahsoka/Rebels connection operates similar to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where the movies are accessible to newcomers but having some background information can be helpful.

You Don't Have To Watch Rebels Before Ahsoka (But It Helps)

Watching Rebels before Ahsoka isn't necessary, but having some familiarity with key plot points from Rebels, especially the loose ends, can enhance the viewing experience of Ahsoka. One important detail to know is the mysterious disappearance of Ezra Bridger, the main protagonist of Rebels, who sacrificed himself to defeat Grand Admiral Thrawn. Ahsoka, who set out to find Ezra after Rebels, continues her search for Thrawn in The Mandalorian, which eventually leads her to encounters with both Thrawn and Ezra in the season finale of Ahsoka. However, newcomers to Ahsoka can still follow the story without prior knowledge of Rebels, as the first few episodes provide exposition and reintroduce the major characters in a concise and impactful manner. By the end of the first episode, even a Star Wars fan unfamiliar with these characters would have a thorough understanding of their backgrounds.

Which Rebels Characters Appear In Ahsoka?

In Ahsoka's new spin-off series, her two closest confidants are familiar faces from the supporting cast of Rebels. She teams up with Sabine Wren, a Mandalorian warrior and the Ghost crew's resident weapons expert. Sabine, known for her rebellious nature, is portrayed brilliantly by Natasha Liu Bordizzo in live-action, capturing her anti-authority attitude perfectly. Ahsoka and Sabine are also joined by Hera Syndulla, who acted as a mother figure to her crewmates on the Ghost and is now a mother herself to her son, Jacen Syndulla. In Ahsoka, Hera's maternal instincts come into play as she mediates a disagreement between Ahsoka and Sabine. Mary Elizabeth Winstead delivers a spectacular performance as Hera in live-action, while Dave Filoni reprises his voice role as Hera's loyal droid companion, Chopper.

The series sets up Grand Admiral Thrawn as the main antagonist. Thrawn, a high-ranking commander in the Empire and a key figure in The Mandalorian continuity, is portrayed in live-action by Lars Mikkelsen, reprising his original voice role. Filoni has the challenge of writing Thrawn in a way that honors both the character's legacy and Mikkelsen's iconic performance. Thrawn stands out as a unique villain in the Star Wars universe, known for his cold-hearted military strategy that resembles more of a Star Trek villain rather than a typical Star Wars antagonist. This has earned him a reputation as one of the franchise's most captivating antagonists.

Ezra has yet to make an appearance in Ahsoka, but his presence looms large in the background and it has been confirmed that he will show up later in the show's eight-episode run. Eman Esfandi will portray the live-action version of Ezra, taking over from Taylor Gray who voiced the character in the animated series. In Rebels, Ezra was a former thief who became a Jedi apprentice under Kanan Jarrus. Viewers unfamiliar with Ezra's backstory might not fully appreciate the impact of Ahsoka tracking him down and reuniting with him. Therefore, whether or not it's worth watching Rebels before diving into Ahsoka depends on whether you're willing to invest time in watching 75 episodes of one Star Wars show to catch all the Easter eggs and callbacks in eight episodes of another Star Wars show.