Ahsoka may not the best thing from Star Wars that I've seen but it's still worth watching. I was really looking forward to this when I first read about it and the even more so after I saw the trailers. It did not disappoint! I don't consider myself a huge Star Wars fan but I'm a normal fan who does enjoy most of them. Like by most, I really liked The Mandalorian and Andor. I thought those two are some of the best things Star Wars has put out since the original trilogy. I even thought The Book of Boba Fett and Obi-Wan Kenobi were both worth watching. I don't understand most of these negative reviews, it's like most of the people writing them didn't want to like this. What were you expecting that you didn't get? Anyway, if you're a fan of Star Wars I definitely recommend you give this a try.
862 Reviews
so far, so...okay
nerrdrage8 June 2024
I'm a big fan of the Clone Wars and Rebels animated series so I was doing backflips when I heard about a live action series based on the characters.
Overall, the casting is good and where Rebels left off, the series has a strong premise. The production design is all right (not quite as good as Andor's though) and the lightsaber fights and well choreographed.
The writing is where it's falling down. Dave Filoni has to take the blame since he wrote every episode and clearly needs a writing staff. Perhaps he's spent too much time writing for five year olds, because he is writing the characters as too bland and not grownup enough, and not thinking some things through sufficiently.
Take Ahoska for example. She's being written as too zen and serene, without an inner conflict that a lead character needs. She is being written as an Obi-Wan-ish mentor figure, but the series is named for her, so why isn't she written as the lead character, with inner conflict and complexity to match?
Maybe the true lead is a character for whom Ahsoka is the mentor? That could be Sabine or Ezra. But Sabine is the worst-written character of all. She must be pushing 30 by now, yet she still acts like a rebellious adolescent.
And don't get me started on "everyone is Force sensitive." It's far too late in the game to retcon Star Wars like this. If it only was a matter of trying to get a little telekinesis or mind control, it would be as common as superpowers are on The Boys, with societal upheaval like you see on that show.
Why doesn't Jabba the Hutt have a minion who can influence rivals in negotiations? Why aren't there background characters who can levitate a glass from across the table, or take an unusually large leap to avoid a mud puddle in the street? We'd have been seeing this all the time long before now. They just need to drop it.
Sabine is being retconned with the Force so she can serve as an apprentice figure to Ahsoka but Ezra is the more natural apprentice. But I'm no happier at his writing.
Okay let's recap here. He made a huge sacrifice while still a teenager to save his friends and the galaxy from Thrawn. He's spent a decade on a bleak planet, surrounded by enemies, with only some turtle people as companions. He has no reason to believe he will ever be rescued.
Then Sabine shows up and effectively invalidates his sacrifice. How does he respond? Oh hi Sabine, nice to see you. That's ALL? He isn't overjoyed to be rescued while at the same time, infuriated that the last ten years were all in vain? Why isn't Ahsoka equally angry at Sabine? Why is Sabine being written as an unstable moron?
It's like Filoni is scared to show the "grownups" being angry at each other because it would upset the presumably childlike audience. If you assume the audience is largely grownups, having conflict and drama is not only all right, it's necessary so we won't all doze off.
Since this series isn't yet over and hopefully won't be for a few years, I may be back to edit this review later on. Hopefully to bump up the score to an 8 or 9 because the writing has improved. Fingers crossed for season 2.
Overall, the casting is good and where Rebels left off, the series has a strong premise. The production design is all right (not quite as good as Andor's though) and the lightsaber fights and well choreographed.
The writing is where it's falling down. Dave Filoni has to take the blame since he wrote every episode and clearly needs a writing staff. Perhaps he's spent too much time writing for five year olds, because he is writing the characters as too bland and not grownup enough, and not thinking some things through sufficiently.
Take Ahoska for example. She's being written as too zen and serene, without an inner conflict that a lead character needs. She is being written as an Obi-Wan-ish mentor figure, but the series is named for her, so why isn't she written as the lead character, with inner conflict and complexity to match?
Maybe the true lead is a character for whom Ahsoka is the mentor? That could be Sabine or Ezra. But Sabine is the worst-written character of all. She must be pushing 30 by now, yet she still acts like a rebellious adolescent.
And don't get me started on "everyone is Force sensitive." It's far too late in the game to retcon Star Wars like this. If it only was a matter of trying to get a little telekinesis or mind control, it would be as common as superpowers are on The Boys, with societal upheaval like you see on that show.
Why doesn't Jabba the Hutt have a minion who can influence rivals in negotiations? Why aren't there background characters who can levitate a glass from across the table, or take an unusually large leap to avoid a mud puddle in the street? We'd have been seeing this all the time long before now. They just need to drop it.
Sabine is being retconned with the Force so she can serve as an apprentice figure to Ahsoka but Ezra is the more natural apprentice. But I'm no happier at his writing.
Okay let's recap here. He made a huge sacrifice while still a teenager to save his friends and the galaxy from Thrawn. He's spent a decade on a bleak planet, surrounded by enemies, with only some turtle people as companions. He has no reason to believe he will ever be rescued.
Then Sabine shows up and effectively invalidates his sacrifice. How does he respond? Oh hi Sabine, nice to see you. That's ALL? He isn't overjoyed to be rescued while at the same time, infuriated that the last ten years were all in vain? Why isn't Ahsoka equally angry at Sabine? Why is Sabine being written as an unstable moron?
It's like Filoni is scared to show the "grownups" being angry at each other because it would upset the presumably childlike audience. If you assume the audience is largely grownups, having conflict and drama is not only all right, it's necessary so we won't all doze off.
Since this series isn't yet over and hopefully won't be for a few years, I may be back to edit this review later on. Hopefully to bump up the score to an 8 or 9 because the writing has improved. Fingers crossed for season 2.
Entertaining Enough
Supermanfan-133 June 2024
I actually enjoyed Ahsoka a lot more than I expected to. After reading all the mixed reviews I was expecting a slow moving, boring show but this was anything but. I was very entertained from the very first episode to the last. I was actually wanting more episodes when it was all ove he r. I know they're already talking about renewing this for another season so I hope they go through with that. The cast here is terrific. Obviously Rosario Dawson is great as Ahsoka but it's the supporting cast which makes this show that much better. It is extremely talented cast with Natasha Lou Bordizzo, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Wes Chatham, David Tennant, the late great Ray Stevenson, and many more. You can tell they put a lot lot of love into this because the attention to detail is very obvious. While it's I not as good as the Mandalorian or Andor, it's still a good show in its own right.
Less than Andor, definitely more Boba Fett and Kenobi
leonardooliva-161357 June 2024
For all Star Wars fans, and mainly those of us who have seen the animated series, the character of Ahsoka Tano means a lot.
That's why when the news broke that his series would be coming out, we all saw it with some concern. It wasn't until we saw Rosario Dawson portrayed in the Mandalorian that our doubts dissipated and became hope.
The series itself has quite a few problems, mainly with pacing at times. However, I can say that I really liked it, there is fantastic casting for Sabin and Hela, and Thrawn and Ezra also look exactly the same as what we saw in Rebels. And perhaps that's where the problem lies, it's a very niche series for those of us who watched the animated series, at times things are taken for granted that could have been explained more.
Beyond that, the evolution and path of Ahsoka, with that incredible chapter when we see her in what could be (or not) the World between Worlds that we previously saw in animation.
We have 3 sides clearly marked with that middle ground that implies the presence of Baylan Skoll (rest in peace Ray Stevenson) and Shin Hati who at times are important antagonists and who leave many doubts thinking about the future of the series.
The presence of Grand Admiral Thrawn by Lars Mikkelsen is also a very high point of the season.
For what I said above, I consider Ahsoka a good product, it is not on par with Andor for example, but it is not Bobba Fet or Kenobi either, which were huge disappointments.
I will be looking forward to the next season and seeing the resolution of this story.
That's why when the news broke that his series would be coming out, we all saw it with some concern. It wasn't until we saw Rosario Dawson portrayed in the Mandalorian that our doubts dissipated and became hope.
The series itself has quite a few problems, mainly with pacing at times. However, I can say that I really liked it, there is fantastic casting for Sabin and Hela, and Thrawn and Ezra also look exactly the same as what we saw in Rebels. And perhaps that's where the problem lies, it's a very niche series for those of us who watched the animated series, at times things are taken for granted that could have been explained more.
Beyond that, the evolution and path of Ahsoka, with that incredible chapter when we see her in what could be (or not) the World between Worlds that we previously saw in animation.
We have 3 sides clearly marked with that middle ground that implies the presence of Baylan Skoll (rest in peace Ray Stevenson) and Shin Hati who at times are important antagonists and who leave many doubts thinking about the future of the series.
The presence of Grand Admiral Thrawn by Lars Mikkelsen is also a very high point of the season.
For what I said above, I consider Ahsoka a good product, it is not on par with Andor for example, but it is not Bobba Fet or Kenobi either, which were huge disappointments.
I will be looking forward to the next season and seeing the resolution of this story.
Another forgettable waste of time
ruelshepperd4 October 2023
After Andor showed how amazing a Star Wars show can be when competently written by people with talent, directed by people with creativity and performed by actors with passion for their roles, this show comes along to remind everyone that Andor was a one-off occurrence, an anomaly. Ahsoka exemplifies the (few) strengths and the (many) weaknesses of recent Disney Plus Star Wars shows. It wastes time, it has bland characters and it exists to remind you of better things Star Wars has done.
The plot of Ahsoka can easily be summarised as being stretched beyond belief. The story of Ahsoka and the Rebels crew trying to prevent the return of Thrawn and rescue Ezra could have easily been told in at least 3 or 4 episodes, with the other 4 being used to build to an epic battle with Thrawn. Instead it takes us 8 episodes to set up the next season or movie, instead of resolving the plotlines of this season. It moves at an agonizingly slow pace wherein it doesn't build any of its characters and just serves up meaningless action and fluff.
The characters are mostly bland and one-note. The returning Rebels characters are all far less expressive than their animated characters and the actors all look bored and confused. It's clear the direction they were given was poor since most are competent actors in other projects. Rosario Dawson is wooden as Ahsoka which is a real shame. She reacts to everything with bored indifference. Sabine is now insufferable who basically screws over the good guys more than once and is never called out on it. The only exceptions are Baylon played by Ray Stevenson, and Shin played by Ivanna Sakhno. They're dynamic is legitimately interesting but that is all there is. Interest. They're characters are given lackluster wrap-ups.
Of course this show contains all the fan-service you'd expect. It is all there to hide the clear lack of any substance in the script. The show is visually pretty great but the costumes look so cheap and bland. When the volume is used it is very obvious. Another issue is that no casual viewer can really enjoy this show without having consumed 7 seasons of Clone Wars and 4 seasons of Rebels. The show keeps telling us that Thrawn is dangerous but we are never shown this. Thrawn does barely anything in the overall plot and there is no reason to fear him.
In the end, this is another show with nothing to say. It lacks substance. Two decent characters, pretty visuals and fan service can't save this show from the pool of mediocrity/stupidity of its fellow TV show brethren. Just re-watch Andor.
The plot of Ahsoka can easily be summarised as being stretched beyond belief. The story of Ahsoka and the Rebels crew trying to prevent the return of Thrawn and rescue Ezra could have easily been told in at least 3 or 4 episodes, with the other 4 being used to build to an epic battle with Thrawn. Instead it takes us 8 episodes to set up the next season or movie, instead of resolving the plotlines of this season. It moves at an agonizingly slow pace wherein it doesn't build any of its characters and just serves up meaningless action and fluff.
The characters are mostly bland and one-note. The returning Rebels characters are all far less expressive than their animated characters and the actors all look bored and confused. It's clear the direction they were given was poor since most are competent actors in other projects. Rosario Dawson is wooden as Ahsoka which is a real shame. She reacts to everything with bored indifference. Sabine is now insufferable who basically screws over the good guys more than once and is never called out on it. The only exceptions are Baylon played by Ray Stevenson, and Shin played by Ivanna Sakhno. They're dynamic is legitimately interesting but that is all there is. Interest. They're characters are given lackluster wrap-ups.
Of course this show contains all the fan-service you'd expect. It is all there to hide the clear lack of any substance in the script. The show is visually pretty great but the costumes look so cheap and bland. When the volume is used it is very obvious. Another issue is that no casual viewer can really enjoy this show without having consumed 7 seasons of Clone Wars and 4 seasons of Rebels. The show keeps telling us that Thrawn is dangerous but we are never shown this. Thrawn does barely anything in the overall plot and there is no reason to fear him.
In the end, this is another show with nothing to say. It lacks substance. Two decent characters, pretty visuals and fan service can't save this show from the pool of mediocrity/stupidity of its fellow TV show brethren. Just re-watch Andor.
I feel gaslit
movieturtle201320 September 2023
I usually don't write a series review if not all episodes are released yet, but with Ahsoka, I feel like I have to. So, just as a warning, this review gets a little ranty.
I keep seeing these amazing reviews of people praising this show to be some masterpiece and I honestly don't get it.
I have been a fan of Ahsoka's character since I was a child. I grew up with her and I am so nostalgic about her, especially because she is practically what introduced me to Star Wars, and I appreciate Filoni's handling of her character in Clone Wars and Rebels as much as anyone else. She began as an immature student and grew to be a very wise and independent person. I was thrilled when they announced her live-action show. The cherry on top was that Thrawn would be the antagonist. That being said, I do know her character and liked her from moment one.
And now, with this show, I feel incredibly gaslit by fans who claim this show (especially episodes 4 and 5) is Christ's second coming and praise Filoni for his genius. But I also feel gaslit by Filoni and the show itself. I am certainly confronted with a character I know nothing about whatsoever. Sabine is a different character; Hera is a different character. I get that animation and live-action are different, but naming this difference as an excuse for stale and emotionless characters is just a cheap ploy. All of these strong female characters that were written so well in the animated shows are now blank, emotionless slates with a history Filoni keeps hinting at but never fully explains and it honestly annoys me so much.
With the live-action show, Filoni's lack of writing skill on a line-level becomes painfully apparent, and to distract from that he keeps jangling shiny keys in front of the viewer with these callbacks and nostalgic moments like the Clone Wars or Anakin wanting to teach her one last lesson, which I still don't know what that was supposed to be. When I watched some YouTube videos of fans breaking the episode down and theorising what the lesson could be, I found myself painfully laughing at myself (in a sad way). How come the writing in this show is so bad and opaque that they have to rely on the fans to pull at loose strings and tie them together and hope that everyone then ends up thinking that this was what Filoni had intended from day one? When I tried to think of a possible explanation of what Anakin's lesson was supposed to be about, I couldn't think of any answer that matched what other people were thinking. It is not only that, but I feel like everybody has different answers and not in a way where a writer writes didactically to leave it for free interpretation but in a way where the writer had no idea what they even wanted the lesson to be.
So far, in this show, I have only seen bad writing, bad dialogue, stale acting, characters that are intriguing (Skoll and Shin) but are left so vague for so long that by the end I don't even care where they came from. You can't leave the mystery open for so long and then explain it at the end of the season (if their character will even be explained at all). If there is nothing for me to get emotionally attached to at a certain point, I will not care for the rest of it, even if it does end up being explained. The same is true with the history between Sabine and Ahsoka. What is it? Why aren't we seeing it? Why are the characters just talking about it like it is general knowledge the viewer already knows? (Again, if it is supposed to be written to keep it open for interpretation, it has sorely failed.) There are only two more episodes left and if it does end up being explained in the LAST TWO EPISODES the pacing will be off so freaking bad!! Why wait so long?
The issue I have is the writing. And the writing in a show is everything, so I have an issue with the show. And with everyone pretending this is "the best Star Wars since..." If this is the best Star Wars since the Disney area, then it's pretty bad to begin with.
I don't want to tell anyone that they are supposed to dislike this show. If you enjoy it, great. But I feel so sorely misrepresented in my opinion of this show. It seems like everyone keeps falling for these cheap callbacks and nostalgia bait moments and cheap execution of some character arc I wasn't even sure Ahsoka was on, because, again, nothing about the writing has led me to think that! I get that a lot of things about a story are supposed to be shrouded in mystery to keep the viewers' interest, but at one point, when everything is just plain vague and so unsatisfyingly touched upon and then poorly executed, I really have to ask myself if anyone working on this show had any idea about what they wanted this show to be!
I hope the last two episodes will prove me wrong, but I doubt it. You can't rely on the last two episodes to remedy an entire season of bad writing.
I keep seeing these amazing reviews of people praising this show to be some masterpiece and I honestly don't get it.
I have been a fan of Ahsoka's character since I was a child. I grew up with her and I am so nostalgic about her, especially because she is practically what introduced me to Star Wars, and I appreciate Filoni's handling of her character in Clone Wars and Rebels as much as anyone else. She began as an immature student and grew to be a very wise and independent person. I was thrilled when they announced her live-action show. The cherry on top was that Thrawn would be the antagonist. That being said, I do know her character and liked her from moment one.
And now, with this show, I feel incredibly gaslit by fans who claim this show (especially episodes 4 and 5) is Christ's second coming and praise Filoni for his genius. But I also feel gaslit by Filoni and the show itself. I am certainly confronted with a character I know nothing about whatsoever. Sabine is a different character; Hera is a different character. I get that animation and live-action are different, but naming this difference as an excuse for stale and emotionless characters is just a cheap ploy. All of these strong female characters that were written so well in the animated shows are now blank, emotionless slates with a history Filoni keeps hinting at but never fully explains and it honestly annoys me so much.
With the live-action show, Filoni's lack of writing skill on a line-level becomes painfully apparent, and to distract from that he keeps jangling shiny keys in front of the viewer with these callbacks and nostalgic moments like the Clone Wars or Anakin wanting to teach her one last lesson, which I still don't know what that was supposed to be. When I watched some YouTube videos of fans breaking the episode down and theorising what the lesson could be, I found myself painfully laughing at myself (in a sad way). How come the writing in this show is so bad and opaque that they have to rely on the fans to pull at loose strings and tie them together and hope that everyone then ends up thinking that this was what Filoni had intended from day one? When I tried to think of a possible explanation of what Anakin's lesson was supposed to be about, I couldn't think of any answer that matched what other people were thinking. It is not only that, but I feel like everybody has different answers and not in a way where a writer writes didactically to leave it for free interpretation but in a way where the writer had no idea what they even wanted the lesson to be.
So far, in this show, I have only seen bad writing, bad dialogue, stale acting, characters that are intriguing (Skoll and Shin) but are left so vague for so long that by the end I don't even care where they came from. You can't leave the mystery open for so long and then explain it at the end of the season (if their character will even be explained at all). If there is nothing for me to get emotionally attached to at a certain point, I will not care for the rest of it, even if it does end up being explained. The same is true with the history between Sabine and Ahsoka. What is it? Why aren't we seeing it? Why are the characters just talking about it like it is general knowledge the viewer already knows? (Again, if it is supposed to be written to keep it open for interpretation, it has sorely failed.) There are only two more episodes left and if it does end up being explained in the LAST TWO EPISODES the pacing will be off so freaking bad!! Why wait so long?
The issue I have is the writing. And the writing in a show is everything, so I have an issue with the show. And with everyone pretending this is "the best Star Wars since..." If this is the best Star Wars since the Disney area, then it's pretty bad to begin with.
I don't want to tell anyone that they are supposed to dislike this show. If you enjoy it, great. But I feel so sorely misrepresented in my opinion of this show. It seems like everyone keeps falling for these cheap callbacks and nostalgia bait moments and cheap execution of some character arc I wasn't even sure Ahsoka was on, because, again, nothing about the writing has led me to think that! I get that a lot of things about a story are supposed to be shrouded in mystery to keep the viewers' interest, but at one point, when everything is just plain vague and so unsatisfyingly touched upon and then poorly executed, I really have to ask myself if anyone working on this show had any idea about what they wanted this show to be!
I hope the last two episodes will prove me wrong, but I doubt it. You can't rely on the last two episodes to remedy an entire season of bad writing.
Well done, exciting and mysterious
jethrobonobala8 June 2024
First off, the music is spectacular, I find myself humming to it every now and then. If you haven't watched Rebels then it's not really that big of a deal. You just have to know that these are some of the earliest rebels along with Anakin Skywalker's padawan before he became Darth Vader. One of the main characters, Ezra, sacrificed himself to get a fierce admiral of the Empire, Thrawn, to a distant galaxy. Naturally, some of his closest allies would want to find him. There, you're all caught up.
The action is great and the story isn't dragging. A great watch for sure! Oh, and fight scenes are really great too!
The action is great and the story isn't dragging. A great watch for sure! Oh, and fight scenes are really great too!
Had its flaws
pascalgerke20 May 2024
Warning: Spoilers
It had some great cinematography that made me grasp loudly. The fight scenes were also very well done and neither too rare nor too frequent.
Unfortunately, you need to have seen Clone Wars and Rebels (a combined runtime of nearly 83 hours) to care about the main characters. I even watched a 30 minute recap on Youtube about everything that happened in these two series, which definitely improved my experience as I wouldn't have remembered how Thrawn and Ezra disappeared otherwise. But I do find that somewhat acceptable.
However, two things really bothered me about the series. Firstly, we hardly learned anything about the two new Sith (or whatever you may call them). They had loads of potential but end up basically being bounty hunters with lightsabers. We learn nothing about Shin, and only get to know Skoll as a mysterious Dooku 2.0. I also waited patiently for one of them to switch sides as there were lots of "no loyalty towards employer" references, but nothing like that happened. They had great character designs and really peaked my interest, but weren't really used.
Secondly, there were lots of minor annoyances and "plot holes". It's probably just me, but I kept seeing very unrealistic stuff that I didn't understand. How and why did Thrawn's men give their star destroyer a paint job? How did the snail dudes build moving houses out of metal while they are basically cavemen, and already have a portable shelter on their backs? How did nobody ever run out of fuel on these very long journeys? Because the ships do run out of fuel as one of the rebel pilots even says. And, most importantly, what did Thrawn and his men even have to transport into the star destroyer for three days when they were already living on the star destroyer? Or rather, why didn't they do it before Elsbeth arrived, as they had multiple years of time?
But all in all, it was a solid show. I really liked Thrawn's behavior as it made him seem like such an unbeatable threat, and this type of extremely rational, genius character is so very rare to see. The writing oversights were very unfortunate and slightly annoying, but didn't affect the plot too much. I hope to finally learn more about the new antagonists next season, and definitely don't regret watching Ahsoka season 1.
Unfortunately, you need to have seen Clone Wars and Rebels (a combined runtime of nearly 83 hours) to care about the main characters. I even watched a 30 minute recap on Youtube about everything that happened in these two series, which definitely improved my experience as I wouldn't have remembered how Thrawn and Ezra disappeared otherwise. But I do find that somewhat acceptable.
However, two things really bothered me about the series. Firstly, we hardly learned anything about the two new Sith (or whatever you may call them). They had loads of potential but end up basically being bounty hunters with lightsabers. We learn nothing about Shin, and only get to know Skoll as a mysterious Dooku 2.0. I also waited patiently for one of them to switch sides as there were lots of "no loyalty towards employer" references, but nothing like that happened. They had great character designs and really peaked my interest, but weren't really used.
Secondly, there were lots of minor annoyances and "plot holes". It's probably just me, but I kept seeing very unrealistic stuff that I didn't understand. How and why did Thrawn's men give their star destroyer a paint job? How did the snail dudes build moving houses out of metal while they are basically cavemen, and already have a portable shelter on their backs? How did nobody ever run out of fuel on these very long journeys? Because the ships do run out of fuel as one of the rebel pilots even says. And, most importantly, what did Thrawn and his men even have to transport into the star destroyer for three days when they were already living on the star destroyer? Or rather, why didn't they do it before Elsbeth arrived, as they had multiple years of time?
But all in all, it was a solid show. I really liked Thrawn's behavior as it made him seem like such an unbeatable threat, and this type of extremely rational, genius character is so very rare to see. The writing oversights were very unfortunate and slightly annoying, but didn't affect the plot too much. I hope to finally learn more about the new antagonists next season, and definitely don't regret watching Ahsoka season 1.
This fell on its face fast
zimmerblake26 October 2023
This series started out very interesting. Ahsoka seemed cool and confident and the new sith had an edge to them that felt dangerous. Then it got bad. Really bad. These characters are awful and have no substance whatsoever. The sets look top notch and then the characters look like they are from a high school play. They act like it too. Whoever plays Sabine Wren is a joke. Every scene she was in was immediately ruined and the actress had no ability to make Sabine the tough rogue she should be. Now Sabine is an ignorant whiny brat. The sith duo quickly lost that dangerous edge and simply became edgelords. It's clear the creators were just hoping people would be so mesmerized by ahsoka being live action now that they wouldnt mind the lack of excitement or talent. Mr. Krabs has a role though so that's nice.
Amazing continuation of the Rebels story!
eb-470559 June 2024
Loved this show from beginning to the end! Dawson as Ahsoka was spot on, seeing Christianson as Anakin again brought tears to my eyes and I loved seeing Thrawn in live action. The highlight for me though was finally seeing Ezra Bridger kick some butt in live action...the actor they got, Eman Esfandi, was such a brilliant casting choice by Filoni.
As I write this, I'm trying to think of one thing the show failed at, but I really can't think of anything. Production design was solid, every character was well written and the music was great...could have used more of the traditional tracks from the Star Wars movies but that's just the traditionalist in me.
I can't wait for season 2 and anything else Filoni has in store for us.
As I write this, I'm trying to think of one thing the show failed at, but I really can't think of anything. Production design was solid, every character was well written and the music was great...could have used more of the traditional tracks from the Star Wars movies but that's just the traditionalist in me.
I can't wait for season 2 and anything else Filoni has in store for us.
A Great Series With One Glaring Problem
NerdyRomulanCyberman17 June 2024
This series did very well reuniting Ahsoka to characters she has been around throughout her life. It had an amazing storyline with good connections to the canon,
However, there is one glaring problem for me. Ahsoka doesn't seem as deadly as she was back in the Clone Wars. She hasn't stopped using or lightsaber or connecting with the force. Back in the Clone Wars, when Order 66 occurred, Ahsoka took on a dozen or more of the most experienced clones in the whole republic army flanked on all sides. And she won (well, escaped). Is he has continued to practice with the force, so why does she seem less of a threat now? She's still threatening, but their's something that she doesn't have in this season that bothers me.
Other than that, Lucasfilm does a great job with this series. I feel like Rosario Dawson could have leaned into the character more, but that's more her getting used to the role. That takes time. Great job, Star Wars.
However, there is one glaring problem for me. Ahsoka doesn't seem as deadly as she was back in the Clone Wars. She hasn't stopped using or lightsaber or connecting with the force. Back in the Clone Wars, when Order 66 occurred, Ahsoka took on a dozen or more of the most experienced clones in the whole republic army flanked on all sides. And she won (well, escaped). Is he has continued to practice with the force, so why does she seem less of a threat now? She's still threatening, but their's something that she doesn't have in this season that bothers me.
Other than that, Lucasfilm does a great job with this series. I feel like Rosario Dawson could have leaned into the character more, but that's more her getting used to the role. That takes time. Great job, Star Wars.
Another Dud and a Nothing Sandwich From Disney Plus
MamadNobari974 October 2023
This is another forgettable and mediocrely-written Star Wars show by the best streaming service ever!
It is overall not as bad as Obi-Wan Kenobi and way more well-produced and well-made, but it's still a soulless show that has barely anything to offer.
In order to keep my review of the whole show short and get my points across more easily, I will just list the pros and cons and won't get into details.
So for things I liked first:
.... and, that's it I guess? I can't really think of other things I liked about the show other than some cool action scenes and some moments here and there. But there is really nothing to like about its characters or the writing in general.
Now the bads and the uglies:
These are the problems I can think of right now. I'm sure if I got into details I would remember more problems I had with it, and the review would be 5 times bigger than this.
But overall, I'm not sure what the point of this was. Basically, everything from this show is forgettable and I feel like I'm being generous with giving it a 6. I do not care about the characters especially Ahsoka herself and I'm just observing them from afar and not caring about them at all. The plot is really thin and how it unfolds and things happen is only because of the stupid decisions Sabine makes. The only interesting and intriguing character is Baylan Skoll which is all because of Ray Stevenson's acting. But they waste him and his character so badly too.
I understand if they're trying to prepare a new trilogy of movies maybe? Or a season 2. But this was the worst way to go at it, especially since they botched the main bad guy from the start by making him as unintimidating as possible as if it was on purpose. They really dropped the ball with Thrawn.
I'm not sure what the point was, but as long as Disney isn't willing to hire actual professional writers who know what they're doing, this is what we're gonna get with the shows and the movies. The shows apart from Andor have been nothing sandwich after nothing sandwich with barely any story to them. Basically, drop some references and names here and there and show some cool action scenes, bring back old actors from the prequel trilogy and utilize them as much as you can, and nostalgia-bait really hard so fans would lose their minds as they just witnessed a masterpiece because there was a cameo. Also don't forget to make the most forgettable and black holes of characters you've ever seen. Congratulations, you just made a $100M Star Wars show that will definitely turn a profit and be called an actual good show by the fanboys.
It is overall not as bad as Obi-Wan Kenobi and way more well-produced and well-made, but it's still a soulless show that has barely anything to offer.
In order to keep my review of the whole show short and get my points across more easily, I will just list the pros and cons and won't get into details.
So for things I liked first:
- The music is decent at first but gets kinda forgettable after a couple of episodes
- The action scenes are well-choreographed and surprisingly well-thought-out, but ultimately get dull
- The visuals and CGI is pretty good
- Ahsoka's style of fighting is pretty cool
- Sabine not being a superhero and gradually getting better but still getting hit nonetheless
- There are some setups and payoffs and things don't just magically come to aid the characters and also they don't always succeed on the first try
- The flashback episode was pretty good
- Bad guys getting a decent screen time as much as the protagonists
- Ray Stevenson
- Thrawn's intro
.... and, that's it I guess? I can't really think of other things I liked about the show other than some cool action scenes and some moments here and there. But there is really nothing to like about its characters or the writing in general.
Now the bads and the uglies:
- Dave Filoni's writing and not having other writers work with him on the show
- Ahsoka being a black void of a character and having zero personality whatsoever. She's just devoid of any characterization.
- Sabine getting more screen time and character arc than Ahsoka. Might as well call the show Sabine instead.
- Sabine's baffling decision-making and having zero plan gambling the fate of an entire galaxy over one person
- The barebone story and plot that could've even been a 3-episode mini-series
- Main characters having the biggest plot armor in recent years
- Bad guys/good guys having the clear opportunity to end each other multiple times but doing nothing
- Thrawn being wasted and turned into something even worse than a cartoonishly evil character. He is a forgettable terribly-written villain that does nothing and basically runs to his grandmas for help every 5 minutes. They did a terrible job of making him intimidating or powerful.
- The trope of bad guys having every opportunity to kill the good guys and even getting the orders to shoot but still standing around looking at each other and doing nothing. Even worse is when they do decide to shoot, they stop because the good guy said "Wait"!
- Maybe too much use of nostalgia-baiting and random name-throwing and references for its own good. It's basically all for the hardcore Star Wars fanboys to lose their mind because they name-dropped Glup --ito and now they think the show is a masterpiece because an old character had a cameo.
- Ahsoka not feeling like the main character at all and having less and less screen time every episode
- Ahsoka having a semblance of a character arc which turns her into a worse character with having a more baffling mentality of actually agreeing with Sabine's stupid choices
- Introducing the element of witchcraft which makes it feel less like Star Wars. I understand that the Jedi are basically space wizards. But this is just too un-Star Wars-y, and feels like they don't know how to make interesting stories with Star Wars anymore, so they resort to throwing every genre at it.
- The story is more like a video game, especially in the finale, because there isn't much meat to the story so they have to resort to video game storytelling and level design instead of actual good writing
- Forgettable dialogue and sometimes even childish
- The pacing is pretty bad especially in the beginning with many pointless drawn-out scenes where characters just stare and do nothing
- Too many action scenes in the second half of the season that get boring and dull after a while
- No tension whatsoever. There are no stakes because you know the outcome every time and an action scene without any tension of stakes is a boring one.
- Not giving a good characterization to the main protagonists, or a reason as to why the audience should care about them for those who haven't seen the animated shows.
- Uninteresting story a show overall since you don't care about any of the characters.
- Unfinished storylines and plot when the show is advertised as a mini-series. So basically the nothing sandwich of a story also didn't have a conclusion.
- Did I forget to mention how awful and forgettable the characters are and how terribly written they are?
These are the problems I can think of right now. I'm sure if I got into details I would remember more problems I had with it, and the review would be 5 times bigger than this.
But overall, I'm not sure what the point of this was. Basically, everything from this show is forgettable and I feel like I'm being generous with giving it a 6. I do not care about the characters especially Ahsoka herself and I'm just observing them from afar and not caring about them at all. The plot is really thin and how it unfolds and things happen is only because of the stupid decisions Sabine makes. The only interesting and intriguing character is Baylan Skoll which is all because of Ray Stevenson's acting. But they waste him and his character so badly too.
I understand if they're trying to prepare a new trilogy of movies maybe? Or a season 2. But this was the worst way to go at it, especially since they botched the main bad guy from the start by making him as unintimidating as possible as if it was on purpose. They really dropped the ball with Thrawn.
I'm not sure what the point was, but as long as Disney isn't willing to hire actual professional writers who know what they're doing, this is what we're gonna get with the shows and the movies. The shows apart from Andor have been nothing sandwich after nothing sandwich with barely any story to them. Basically, drop some references and names here and there and show some cool action scenes, bring back old actors from the prequel trilogy and utilize them as much as you can, and nostalgia-bait really hard so fans would lose their minds as they just witnessed a masterpiece because there was a cameo. Also don't forget to make the most forgettable and black holes of characters you've ever seen. Congratulations, you just made a $100M Star Wars show that will definitely turn a profit and be called an actual good show by the fanboys.
Hayden Christensen... awesome
mjlower-2899117 May 2024
After the fall of the Galactic Empire, former Jedi Ahsoka Tano investigates an emerging threat to a vulnerable galaxy.
So, blah blah blah... we all know that story line, "No, I am your father." "That's not true! That's impossible!" My whole point is that Hayden Christensen is freaking awesome in this series.
I understand that my personal opinion means nothing to the masses.
I'm not a narcissist. Lol My whole point is that Hayden Christensen killed it!!!!!
Seriously, he's a heck of an actor.
People are petty, and most have no kind of "brain to mouth" filter.
Which is fine... I am not dismissing these fans.
Ok. I see now that I have dug myself into a hole.
So... that's all I have to say about that.
So, blah blah blah... we all know that story line, "No, I am your father." "That's not true! That's impossible!" My whole point is that Hayden Christensen is freaking awesome in this series.
I understand that my personal opinion means nothing to the masses.
I'm not a narcissist. Lol My whole point is that Hayden Christensen killed it!!!!!
Seriously, he's a heck of an actor.
People are petty, and most have no kind of "brain to mouth" filter.
Which is fine... I am not dismissing these fans.
Ok. I see now that I have dug myself into a hole.
So... that's all I have to say about that.
The Perfect Mediocracy
Engerek0124 August 2023
What I've seen in the first two episodes is the definition of mediocracy. It's not bad, it's not good, just hanging somewhere in between.
The story so far is non-existent. There are some bad guys and... that's it.
Writing is horrible. The character interactions were pretty much the most boring I've seen in a very long time. It was painful to watch sometimes. It was that bad.
Forced wisdom... is the worst kind of writing.
Logic has left the show. When I saw Sabine, one of the smartest fighters in the SW Universe, punching a robot in the face, I immediately lowered my expectations. After that, it even got worse. She's definitely NOT the Sabine I knew from the Rebel series.
Acting is also generally ... bland. Even Rosario Dawson seems off as Ahsoka.
But there are also good things.
CGI and scenery are breathtaking.
David Tenant is amazing as the voice of Huyang. God I love this man.
The show has some promise of mystery in the distant horizon, and that's what encourages me to watch more. If they can deliver, the show can get a lot better.
The story so far is non-existent. There are some bad guys and... that's it.
Writing is horrible. The character interactions were pretty much the most boring I've seen in a very long time. It was painful to watch sometimes. It was that bad.
Forced wisdom... is the worst kind of writing.
Logic has left the show. When I saw Sabine, one of the smartest fighters in the SW Universe, punching a robot in the face, I immediately lowered my expectations. After that, it even got worse. She's definitely NOT the Sabine I knew from the Rebel series.
Acting is also generally ... bland. Even Rosario Dawson seems off as Ahsoka.
But there are also good things.
CGI and scenery are breathtaking.
David Tenant is amazing as the voice of Huyang. God I love this man.
The show has some promise of mystery in the distant horizon, and that's what encourages me to watch more. If they can deliver, the show can get a lot better.
Lightsabers mean NOTHING...
z141723 August 2023
Warning: Spoilers
It's quite obvious that Sabine won't die and that she is fundamental to the rest of the series, so why stab her with a lightsaber? Why do you have to continue deprecating lightsabers!?
I hate the fact that for decades lightsabers were these amazing, elegant, deadly signature weapons, by which you would die if stabbed or at least lose an important part of your body, now, since Disney took over, they stand for nothing more than liminous pocket knifes.
Got stabbed? No worries! You get to live forever and we'll fix you in the blink of an eye! No permanent damage, no consequences, you won't even be in pain during recovery! Qui-Gon can only imagine...
It's ridiculous, such poor writing, you could have saved her in so many ways, but no, you had to go for the cheapest, easiest way of ending the episode, just for her to be alive and painless in less than 15 seconds after the auto play feature kicks in.
You wrote a series where at least five of your main characters carry lightsabers, it's their primary weapon and the one thing that should strike fear in their opponents, so, now what? Nobody ever dies? I don't see Disney beheading anyone on this show, so, how will you justify some from dying and others from living?
Lastly, I get it, lightsaber battles are tough, Ewan and Hayden trained for months, even years just to get a couple of scenes right, but you know, that was their job, it came with the part.
The fight between Sabine and Shin looked slow, you could tell how they struggled to remember their next moves, specially, when Sabine looses, there you can clearly see how she's patiently waiting to get stabbed while her arms are up. Can't you at least pay some attention to detail and speed up this in post production?
Hayden and Ewan are loved because of their devotion to their role, because of the endless hours of rehearsals and training that they had to put in to actually look like Jedis, whay can't you demand the same thing from these actors? Thousands would kill for the part, can't you find someone that can actually "fight" realistically? Or provide them with the proper training and make sure they live up to their predecessors?
Anyways, sure, I'll probably keep watching, hoping for the best, however, my hopes ain't too high...
I hate the fact that for decades lightsabers were these amazing, elegant, deadly signature weapons, by which you would die if stabbed or at least lose an important part of your body, now, since Disney took over, they stand for nothing more than liminous pocket knifes.
Got stabbed? No worries! You get to live forever and we'll fix you in the blink of an eye! No permanent damage, no consequences, you won't even be in pain during recovery! Qui-Gon can only imagine...
It's ridiculous, such poor writing, you could have saved her in so many ways, but no, you had to go for the cheapest, easiest way of ending the episode, just for her to be alive and painless in less than 15 seconds after the auto play feature kicks in.
You wrote a series where at least five of your main characters carry lightsabers, it's their primary weapon and the one thing that should strike fear in their opponents, so, now what? Nobody ever dies? I don't see Disney beheading anyone on this show, so, how will you justify some from dying and others from living?
Lastly, I get it, lightsaber battles are tough, Ewan and Hayden trained for months, even years just to get a couple of scenes right, but you know, that was their job, it came with the part.
The fight between Sabine and Shin looked slow, you could tell how they struggled to remember their next moves, specially, when Sabine looses, there you can clearly see how she's patiently waiting to get stabbed while her arms are up. Can't you at least pay some attention to detail and speed up this in post production?
Hayden and Ewan are loved because of their devotion to their role, because of the endless hours of rehearsals and training that they had to put in to actually look like Jedis, whay can't you demand the same thing from these actors? Thousands would kill for the part, can't you find someone that can actually "fight" realistically? Or provide them with the proper training and make sure they live up to their predecessors?
Anyways, sure, I'll probably keep watching, hoping for the best, however, my hopes ain't too high...
Some of the worst Star Wars content I've ever watched, and I've watched the holiday special
julianobiwan30 August 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Episodes 1 and 2 were okay but not amazing. They acted as a decent start of the series and mainly felt like they were supposed to set up the rest of the show. I just watched episode 3 and the drop in quality was huge! It felt like nothing happened in the episode. It has been established that Sabine can't use the force, so why do we spend the first few minutes with her attempting to do something that we know only force users can do? Does Ahsoka just expect her to become force sensitive like turning on a light switch? Why is the new republic being run my these incompetent people? Mon Morgan was there in rebels, she knows what a threat Thrawn is. Why is she just standing by with her senator buddies while they're being told Thrawns alive? Shouldn't all of their resources be used to stop another war from happening? Also, where is Zeb!? Shouldn't he be there with Sabine and Ahsoka looking for Thrawn and Ezra? Don't even get me started on Ahsoka floating around in space. Did her face shrink while it was in that mask? It looked like it shrieked. I'll come back to Star Wars when Andor season 2 starts. Until then, goodbye Disney+
Another enjoyably live action 'Star Wars' series
Tweekums21 January 2024
This series features characters introduced in the animated Star Wars series 'The Clone Wars' and 'Rebels' so it would help to have seen those first, I certainly felt I was missing out on something having yet to watch 'Rebels'.
Set after the fall of the Galactic Empire, this series follows Ahsoka Tano, Anakin Skywalker's Padawan. She believes that Grand Admiral Thrawn is still alive and remains a threat to the New Republic. She acquires a star map that should show his location. Unfortunately it is locked; she is advised to seek the help of her former Padawan Sabine Wren. Sabine has her own reasons for wanting to find Thrawn; when he vanished so did Ezra Bridger, a close friend of hers. Also seeking Thrawn are Baylan Skoll, a Jedi turned bounty hunter, his apprentice Shin Hati and Morgan Elsbeth, one of the last of the surviving Nightsisters. The mission will see Ahsoka and Sabine face many dangers and travel further then either imagined.
Despite not having seen 'Rebels' I enjoyed this. I liked the character of Ahsoka since she was introduced in 'The Clone Wars' and Sabine quickly grew on me. Other main characters, both good and bad, were fun to watch. There is a good amount of action, fight scenes are impressively choreographed and space-based action is exciting without being too overblown. The cast is impressive; Rosario Dawson really captures Ahsoka, a character who is older and wiser than the Padawan we met in The Clone Wars. Natasha Liu Bordizzo is really likeable as Sabine Wren and the late Ray Stevenson puts in a fine performance as Baylan Skoll. As one would expect from Star Wars the action takes place on a number of distinct planets. The end of the first season is very much a cliff-hanger so I'm pleased to hear that a second season is to be made. Overall I thought this was a lot of fun; well worth a watch if you are a Star Wars fan.
Set after the fall of the Galactic Empire, this series follows Ahsoka Tano, Anakin Skywalker's Padawan. She believes that Grand Admiral Thrawn is still alive and remains a threat to the New Republic. She acquires a star map that should show his location. Unfortunately it is locked; she is advised to seek the help of her former Padawan Sabine Wren. Sabine has her own reasons for wanting to find Thrawn; when he vanished so did Ezra Bridger, a close friend of hers. Also seeking Thrawn are Baylan Skoll, a Jedi turned bounty hunter, his apprentice Shin Hati and Morgan Elsbeth, one of the last of the surviving Nightsisters. The mission will see Ahsoka and Sabine face many dangers and travel further then either imagined.
Despite not having seen 'Rebels' I enjoyed this. I liked the character of Ahsoka since she was introduced in 'The Clone Wars' and Sabine quickly grew on me. Other main characters, both good and bad, were fun to watch. There is a good amount of action, fight scenes are impressively choreographed and space-based action is exciting without being too overblown. The cast is impressive; Rosario Dawson really captures Ahsoka, a character who is older and wiser than the Padawan we met in The Clone Wars. Natasha Liu Bordizzo is really likeable as Sabine Wren and the late Ray Stevenson puts in a fine performance as Baylan Skoll. As one would expect from Star Wars the action takes place on a number of distinct planets. The end of the first season is very much a cliff-hanger so I'm pleased to hear that a second season is to be made. Overall I thought this was a lot of fun; well worth a watch if you are a Star Wars fan.
Enjoyable "sequel" to Star Wars Rebels
RKParkerson1 January 2024
Having heard many bad things about "Ahsoka," I was a bit cautious about watching it, fearing I would be disappointed. I was worried over nothing as I really enjoyed it! The story by Filoni is solid, the casting and acting is excellent. I particularly found Winstead to be a perfect Hera Sindulla, Kudos to her. Sure, there are going to be some slow parts, what show or movie doesn't have that? You can't have phew-phew gun fights constantly. It's called "pacing." There were a few spots in the light sabre fights that looked a bit weak or tired, but it really isn't anything to complain about. Otherwise the CG effects were movie quality. I hope we get a second season of this.
With Filoni in charge, you can expect the best
jxbrowning21 June 2024
I have always favored the animated Star Wars (Clone Wars, Rebels, etc.) over the movies. That may be a significant factor in my review.
I think this show is really solid. Rosario Dawson does a great job as the older Ahsoka and, the ladies playing Sabine and Hera did not disappoint. In place of the 27th use of Darth Vader, we get 2 really solid Sith enemies. (Sad to lose Ray Stevenson. God rest him.)
The Filoni people did a really solid job in casting and the episodes are a great watch from the start. Too often, these Disney series have 1 or 2 ponderous set up episodes. Great mix of action and story from the first episode to the last.
The best episode features Hayden Christensen, as Anakin, and the phenomenal Ariana Greenblatt as young Ahsoka. This episode isn't a 10 - it's a 12. The two of them should get a series. It would be great to see them fill in parts of the Clone Wars that we don't know.
I have watched it twice and it was worth the second watch. Looking forward to the second season and more of Ahsoka and the rebel's story. Great work Dave Filoni!
I think this show is really solid. Rosario Dawson does a great job as the older Ahsoka and, the ladies playing Sabine and Hera did not disappoint. In place of the 27th use of Darth Vader, we get 2 really solid Sith enemies. (Sad to lose Ray Stevenson. God rest him.)
The Filoni people did a really solid job in casting and the episodes are a great watch from the start. Too often, these Disney series have 1 or 2 ponderous set up episodes. Great mix of action and story from the first episode to the last.
The best episode features Hayden Christensen, as Anakin, and the phenomenal Ariana Greenblatt as young Ahsoka. This episode isn't a 10 - it's a 12. The two of them should get a series. It would be great to see them fill in parts of the Clone Wars that we don't know.
I have watched it twice and it was worth the second watch. Looking forward to the second season and more of Ahsoka and the rebel's story. Great work Dave Filoni!
Prequel New Trilogy. Before The Force Awakens
ahmadkhairimohamed25 June 2024
Ahsoka is very good Star Wars tv show a prequel before the new trilogy episode 7-9 from the film. Opening scene is have similarities from the prequel trilogy epsiode 1. The finale returning of the Grand Imperial Thrawn with his Stormstrooper Army with the witches some part is has the vibes from the finale part SW episode 2 Attack of the clones.
The cast here is terrific. Obviously Rosario Dawson is great as Ahsoka but it's the supporting cast which makes this show that much better. It is extremely talented cast. I love them all. Obviously Rosario Dawson is great as Ahsoka but it's the supporting cast which makes this show that much better.
The cast here is terrific. Obviously Rosario Dawson is great as Ahsoka but it's the supporting cast which makes this show that much better. It is extremely talented cast. I love them all. Obviously Rosario Dawson is great as Ahsoka but it's the supporting cast which makes this show that much better.
The Galactic Wild Goose Chase
natmavila28 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
In a galaxy far, far away, someone thought it would be a fantastic idea to turn "Capture the Flag" into an interstellar epic, and thus, "Ahsoka" was born. The plot zigzags through space faster than a hyperactive Porg on a sugar rush. We have Baylan Skoll, a Jedi-turned-mercenary with a penchant for dramatic entrances, and his apprentice Shin Hati, embarking on a rescue mission that feels more like a cosmic game of tag. The duo's quest to free Morgan Elsbeth from the clutches of Ahsoka Tano sets off a chain of events involving star maps, lightsaber duels, and the obligatory search for Grand Admiral Thrawn, who might as well be the galaxy's most elusive Easter egg.
As Ahsoka and her motley crew of allies, including a robot named Huyang who's probably seen better centuries, unravel the mystery of Thrawn's whereabouts, we're treated to a narrative that plays out like a "Star Wars" edition of "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?". The quest leads us from daring rescues aboard New Republic cruisers to lightsaber showdowns on Corellia, all while navigating the complex bureaucracy of the New Republic, which, spoiler alert, moves as swiftly as a Hutt on a treadmill. The introduction of Sabine Wren, Ahsoka's former Padawan with a newfound aversion to haircuts and a difficulty in using the Force, adds a personal touch to the intergalactic scavenger hunt.
The film's climactic moments unfold on Seatos, a planet that I'm convinced was chosen by throwing a dart at a map of the galaxy. Here, our heroes engage in a battle that has more twists than a Dagobah swamp path. With Ahsoka diving into oceans and revisiting the World Between Worlds, a concept that feels like a "Star Wars" writer's get-out-of-jail-free card, the movie ensures that every fan theory ever concocted gets a moment in the sun. The finale, a rendezvous with the Dathomiri Nightsisters and Thrawn, feels like the ultimate fan service fiesta, leaving viewers both exhilarated and slightly confused about what they've just witnessed.
In conclusion, "Ahsoka" is a rollercoaster ride through the "Star Wars" universe, blending nostalgia with new lore in a concoction that's as unpredictable as a game of Dejarik with a Wookiee. It's a visual spectacle that manages to both charm and bewilder, ensuring that your attachment to this galaxy isn't just based on nostalgia, but on the continuous hope of understanding what on Tatooine is going on. Four stars for the sheer audacity to turn the galaxy into a playground for the most elaborate game of hide and seek.
As Ahsoka and her motley crew of allies, including a robot named Huyang who's probably seen better centuries, unravel the mystery of Thrawn's whereabouts, we're treated to a narrative that plays out like a "Star Wars" edition of "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?". The quest leads us from daring rescues aboard New Republic cruisers to lightsaber showdowns on Corellia, all while navigating the complex bureaucracy of the New Republic, which, spoiler alert, moves as swiftly as a Hutt on a treadmill. The introduction of Sabine Wren, Ahsoka's former Padawan with a newfound aversion to haircuts and a difficulty in using the Force, adds a personal touch to the intergalactic scavenger hunt.
The film's climactic moments unfold on Seatos, a planet that I'm convinced was chosen by throwing a dart at a map of the galaxy. Here, our heroes engage in a battle that has more twists than a Dagobah swamp path. With Ahsoka diving into oceans and revisiting the World Between Worlds, a concept that feels like a "Star Wars" writer's get-out-of-jail-free card, the movie ensures that every fan theory ever concocted gets a moment in the sun. The finale, a rendezvous with the Dathomiri Nightsisters and Thrawn, feels like the ultimate fan service fiesta, leaving viewers both exhilarated and slightly confused about what they've just witnessed.
In conclusion, "Ahsoka" is a rollercoaster ride through the "Star Wars" universe, blending nostalgia with new lore in a concoction that's as unpredictable as a game of Dejarik with a Wookiee. It's a visual spectacle that manages to both charm and bewilder, ensuring that your attachment to this galaxy isn't just based on nostalgia, but on the continuous hope of understanding what on Tatooine is going on. Four stars for the sheer audacity to turn the galaxy into a playground for the most elaborate game of hide and seek.
kinda dumb
cherold28 August 2023
Ahsoka is, for most of the first episode, fairly decent. Rosario Dawson is a rather muted hero, but there's a good fight scene early on and I thought the general was an appealing character.
But the character of Sabine makes no sense. She starts by doing something rebellious for no other reason than to show that, yeah, she's a rebel just for the sake of being a rebel. Later she does something blatantly idiotic that results in exactly what you expect to happen. And once again, the reason for her decision makes no sense.
If the rest of the episode were great then I might forgive it a blitheringly stupid turn of events, but nothing else made up for that foolishness.
I hadn't planned to watch anymore, but then someone on social media raved about how the series really took off in episode 4, which was directed by the guy who did the first Spider-verse movie. So I checked that out. And it was not remotely better than episode 1. Sabine was still stupid, the characters were still bland, and I was generally bored throughout.
Should have gone with my first instinct.
But the character of Sabine makes no sense. She starts by doing something rebellious for no other reason than to show that, yeah, she's a rebel just for the sake of being a rebel. Later she does something blatantly idiotic that results in exactly what you expect to happen. And once again, the reason for her decision makes no sense.
If the rest of the episode were great then I might forgive it a blitheringly stupid turn of events, but nothing else made up for that foolishness.
I hadn't planned to watch anymore, but then someone on social media raved about how the series really took off in episode 4, which was directed by the guy who did the first Spider-verse movie. So I checked that out. And it was not remotely better than episode 1. Sabine was still stupid, the characters were still bland, and I was generally bored throughout.
Should have gone with my first instinct.
I loved it , cant wait for season 2
renegademaster-7874523 June 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Dave Filonis direction is impecable, i love the Kurasawa esque jedi combat sequences.
The story follows on from Star Wars Rebels, which maybe confusing if you didnt watch that show. I love the further exploration of the witches of Dathomir, such a rich dark story arc.
Admiral Thrawn and his Night Troopers are fantatistically brought to life!
Ray Stevenson was the biggest surprise in how compelling his role as fallen Jedi was. It was so sad to hear he passed after the show, may he rest in peace.
My only gribe is they cut Sabines hair, she looked so hot with the red and purple styling. Her mando armor was also a bit small and made her look very flat chested, but she was super cool never the less. Her hot Mandalorian blood causing her to act rashly is cooled by Rosario Dawsons steady protrayal of Ahsoka.
I cant wait for season 2.
The story follows on from Star Wars Rebels, which maybe confusing if you didnt watch that show. I love the further exploration of the witches of Dathomir, such a rich dark story arc.
Admiral Thrawn and his Night Troopers are fantatistically brought to life!
Ray Stevenson was the biggest surprise in how compelling his role as fallen Jedi was. It was so sad to hear he passed after the show, may he rest in peace.
My only gribe is they cut Sabines hair, she looked so hot with the red and purple styling. Her mando armor was also a bit small and made her look very flat chested, but she was super cool never the less. Her hot Mandalorian blood causing her to act rashly is cooled by Rosario Dawsons steady protrayal of Ahsoka.
I cant wait for season 2.
Not the worst thing to come out of the franchise
mfeierskov26 August 2023
So far this isn't the worst Star Wars show/movie out there, but it's certainly not amazing either.
The good: It's very pretty
The mediocre: The music The plot The villains
The bad: The acting The writing
Nothing feels like people having an actual conversation, it all feels like people reading lines at each other.
The thing with the map they are trying to find feels like it's pulled directly out of the sequel trilogy. Why is there a map to someone's current location hidden in some ancient ruins behind several layers of old mechanisms you have to turn to unlock? It's the classic error of thinking of something you think will look cool and then finding a silly excuse to do it.
And then there's the whole "the force is female" thing. So far it doesn't really hurt the show, because most of the characters are established and well liked, but you can't help but notice and remember that it's because if Disney's stupid politics, and it just can't help hurting the immersion of the show.
The lightssaber choreography seems really mediocre as well. It's full of the standard up close and obscure shots and cuts, that they do when they have no choice, because it would look terrible otherwise.
The last annoyance so far is the female villain. Maybe it will get better of we get to know her, but her only trait so far is her ability to have a complete deadpan look no matter what's going on in the scene. It's the most lazy way possible to try to make a villain look evil.
I hope the show will get better and part 2 was definitely better than part 1, so there's still hope for the show.
The good: It's very pretty
The mediocre: The music The plot The villains
The bad: The acting The writing
Nothing feels like people having an actual conversation, it all feels like people reading lines at each other.
The thing with the map they are trying to find feels like it's pulled directly out of the sequel trilogy. Why is there a map to someone's current location hidden in some ancient ruins behind several layers of old mechanisms you have to turn to unlock? It's the classic error of thinking of something you think will look cool and then finding a silly excuse to do it.
And then there's the whole "the force is female" thing. So far it doesn't really hurt the show, because most of the characters are established and well liked, but you can't help but notice and remember that it's because if Disney's stupid politics, and it just can't help hurting the immersion of the show.
The lightssaber choreography seems really mediocre as well. It's full of the standard up close and obscure shots and cuts, that they do when they have no choice, because it would look terrible otherwise.
The last annoyance so far is the female villain. Maybe it will get better of we get to know her, but her only trait so far is her ability to have a complete deadpan look no matter what's going on in the scene. It's the most lazy way possible to try to make a villain look evil.
I hope the show will get better and part 2 was definitely better than part 1, so there's still hope for the show.
Amateuristic writing and directing
jlvanorsouw14 October 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Firstly I want to point out that even if you have seen the Star Wars animated series and movies, this show is still amateuristic and bland. I have seen The Clone Wars and Rebels and all the movies and the characters from these series are nothing like their animated counterparts.
The story or plot in this series is enormously contrived. The protagonists make the dumbest decisions which they only make because the writers need to further the plot and not because it is a realistic decision made by a good written character.
All the plot does is relying on nostalgia and recurring characters. Everytime a familiar face pops up I can almost hear a fake sitcom cheer to remind us that you should like this very much because Anakin is in it and C-3PO just pops into a closed trial.
As worse or maybe even worse is the directing. Actors just stand there with no emotion. They don't blink, their words are spread out in time just so the writer could fill in the minimal time requirement of an episode. The backgrounds and environments are bland and nothing happens there that could enrich the world of Star Wars.
Also the world never felt smaller, again because of the reliance on recurring characters. In a galaxy with millions of stars and billions of people apparently the same handfull of people pop up everywhere to save the day or to say something to trigger our nostalgia senses.
All in all this series does not have any themes, or morals or even a simple fun story. The protagonist do things wrong and they don't have to face the consequences of their stupid actions. The villians act as if they are super smart, but cannot just aim their guns at three lonely people riding horsedogs. And to top it all of, people consume this despicable creation as if Dave Filoni is the messiah that will bring balance to the Star Wars Universe. He did fun things with the Animated Series but this is just bad, so excruciating bad.
The story or plot in this series is enormously contrived. The protagonists make the dumbest decisions which they only make because the writers need to further the plot and not because it is a realistic decision made by a good written character.
All the plot does is relying on nostalgia and recurring characters. Everytime a familiar face pops up I can almost hear a fake sitcom cheer to remind us that you should like this very much because Anakin is in it and C-3PO just pops into a closed trial.
As worse or maybe even worse is the directing. Actors just stand there with no emotion. They don't blink, their words are spread out in time just so the writer could fill in the minimal time requirement of an episode. The backgrounds and environments are bland and nothing happens there that could enrich the world of Star Wars.
Also the world never felt smaller, again because of the reliance on recurring characters. In a galaxy with millions of stars and billions of people apparently the same handfull of people pop up everywhere to save the day or to say something to trigger our nostalgia senses.
All in all this series does not have any themes, or morals or even a simple fun story. The protagonist do things wrong and they don't have to face the consequences of their stupid actions. The villians act as if they are super smart, but cannot just aim their guns at three lonely people riding horsedogs. And to top it all of, people consume this despicable creation as if Dave Filoni is the messiah that will bring balance to the Star Wars Universe. He did fun things with the Animated Series but this is just bad, so excruciating bad.
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