This was it. The Anakin Skywalker episode. After the legendary character—Ahsoka Tano’s former Jedi grasp—showed up at the end of the previous episode, hype and expectations had been at an all-time excessive. This episode of Ahsoka was even taking part in on the large display in sure cities. What did series creator Dave Filoni probably have in retailer? Was Anakin coming again to life? How would his look influence Ahsoka’s life? And what would possibly we learn about Star Wars mythology that we didn’t know earlier than?
In pure Filoni style, the true solutions to Anakin’s thriller went in one other route. Lastly, after 4 episodes, he gave us some deeper perception into who precisely Ahsoka Tano is and needs to be. The scenes had been the spotlight of a really lovely, very uneven episode of Ahsoka that set the stage for the primary season’s ultimate arc.
Holding these secrets and techniques for only a few minutes longer, episode 5 of Ahsoka, known as “Shadow Warrior,” didn’t begin with Ahsoka and Anakin. It began on Seatos. Hera lands the Ghost and begins her seek for her lacking associates, Ahsoka and Sabine. Scans by her fleet of X-Wings hold arising damaging. She as an alternative finds Huyang, holding Sabine’s helmet, lamenting that he instructed them to remain collectively, however they by no means pay attention.
After the title reveal, we’re again within the mysterious World Between Worlds, a portal between all space and time. Anakin explains to Ahsoka that the one method she could possibly be there’s if she misplaced a battle—and although she doesn’t keep in mind it initally, she rapidly recollects her battle with Baylan Skoll. Anakin says it’s good that she remembers as a result of it means she nonetheless has an opportunity to dwell. So sure, it appears that technically, Ahsoka is useless.
Anakin says he’s there to complete her coaching which Ahsoka finds amusing. “It’s just a little too late for that,” she says, however Anakin says you’re by no means too outdated to study. The lesson is “Stay or die” and Anakin lights his lightsaber. Ahsoka doesn’t wish to battle him, however she’s pressured to, and the 2 start to duel.
Snap again to actuality (whoa, there goes gravity), and Hera, Jacen, and Huyang are starting to lose hope. Carson Teva arrives and says that Senator Organa (RIP Leia) can solely cowl for them for thus lengthy. It appears the New Republic fleet isn’t pleased that Hera disobeyed orders to return out right here in search of her associates and she or he might need to pay the worth for it. As that is taking place, her son Jacen tells his mother he hears one thing. There’s one thing concerning the water, he says. He can really feel it.
Jacen asks his mother to pay attention. Not for the waves. However for the lightsabers. And because the John Williams rating slowly rose up on the soundtrack three issues grew to become obvious. One, this Jacen child has one thing. Two, Ahsoka remains to be on the market. And three, Hera can hear it too. It’s a strong, memorable second that utterly baffles the down-to-earth Carson Teva. However, Huyang explains, Jacen has “skills” as a result of his father, Kanan Jarrus, was a Jedi. And in that second I cheered as a result of it took 4 and 1 / 4 episodes however, lastly, one other star of Rebels lastly will get his due. (Though, if you read the site, you may have seen that this was teased last week.)
Ahsoka and Anakin proceed their battle and Ahsoka even offers her grasp a run for his cash. However Anakin, as all the time, has a couple of methods up his sleeve and destroys the platform they’re on. Ahsoka falls and lands… someplace. Is it a desert? Is it a cloud of smoke? Then a clone trooper runs by. And one other. After which Anakin screams “Ahead!” sporting a brand new outfit. “Come on Snips,” he names as we now understand Ahsoka is a child once more (performed by Ariana Greenblatt, who’s having fairly the summer season; she was the daughter in Barbie and likewise performed younger Gamora in Avengers: Infinity Struggle. She crushes the position right here.)
Ahsoka would possibly look younger, however it appears as if she’s obtained the identical thoughts as her current self. She will be able to inform they’re, sure, within the Clone Wars and that, sure, this is without doubt one of the first battles she and Anakin had been ever in collectively. (There’s no particular affirmation of which battle it’s, particularly, however the battle of Teth looks like a very good guess.)
“Why are we right here?” she asks, and Anakin responds, “You inform me.” The implication being that is the place Ahsoka’s thoughts wants her to be to proceed Anakin’s lesson about life and demise. The battle ends, Anakin talks to a couple individuals (together with Captain Rex!) as Ahsoka retains an injured trooper firm. She’s unhappy concerning the losses and says this isn’t what she educated for. Struggle isn’t why she needed to be a Jedi. Anakin explains that being a Jedi modifications with the instances. When he was being educated, it was about conserving the peace. During a warfare, he needed to prepare her to be a warrior. “What if I wish to cease combating?” she asks. “Then you definately’ll die,” he says. As he walks away, Ahsoka sees Anakin part from his regular self into Darth Vader. A reminder that her grasp not have all of the solutions.
The search on Seatos continues however isn’t trying promising. There’s a glimmer of hope although within the reality Huyang explains to Hera {that a} regular particular person wouldn’t vanish, however Ahsoka isn’t a standard particular person. He tells Hera a bit about Ahsoka’s grasp when a name is available in. Chopper has picked up one thing on his scans, so Hera and the X-Wings head that method.
We’re again to the Clone Wars and a really self-aware Anakin mentions that “I don’t know this battle.” That’s as a result of, because the now double lightsaber-wielding Ahsoka explains, it occurred after she left the Order. It’s the Siege of Mandalore, seen in the seventh and final season of The Clone Wars. Ahsoka is now a pacesetter and, in response to Anakin, the warrior he educated her to be.
That doesn’t sit proper with Ahsoka. She didn’t wish to simply be a warrior. And but Anakin explains that she’s greater than that. She’s a part of a legacy going again by way of historical past (this additionally felt like Dave Filoni telling individuals simply how necessary Ahsoka is by screaming one thing like “She has a direct line again to Yoda!”). She agrees however begins to show the tables on him. She explains that his legacy isn’t what he thinks it’s. It’s extra violent. “Is that what that is about?” he says, mad that she’s acknowledging the enormous Darth Vader within the room. It is what it’s about and the thought modifications him. “Again to the start,” he says. “Stay or die,” as he ignites his now purple lightsaber. He’s develop into the evil Sith model of himself and the 2 start combating once more.
Anakin kicks her out of the previous, again to the current, the place she hears Vader’s respiratory. She’s battling not simply Anakin her grasp, however Anakin the fallen Jedi and Sith Lord too. It’s not simple however, ultimately, she bests him. “I select to dwell,” Ahsoka says, lastly answering Anakin’s query which is when he turns again to his gentle aspect self. “There’s hope for you but,” he says, and disappears.
Now, should you’re a long-time Star Struggles fan, you in all probability wanted to gentle a cigarette or have a stiff drink in any case that. There was a lot to digest, from the Easter eggs and callbacks to the casting, implications, and a lot extra. However in the end all of it needed to serve a objective, proper? What did Ahsoka study right here? Is it simply that she needs to dwell? Who doesn’t? There’s no express reply, which is definitely on objective and possibly not the choice by Filoni. Implicitly although, Ahsoka manifesting Anakin and these main wars in her life revealed what she thinks of herself. She sees herself as that warrior, not as a grasp. Not somebody who can assist others with out violence. However Anakin’s perspective on the Jedi general, that they adapt to the instances, seems like the important thing takeaway. The galaxy is not at warfare. Ahsoka doesn’t should be a warrior. She must be the peacekeeper that Anakin was as a younger little one. Or, possibly, one thing else fully.
Did that come throughout within the episode? Was it a lesson worthy of Filoni dipping again into his Star Wars previous? Time will inform. However, after Hera and her workforce rescue Ahsoka, you do get the sense from her efficiency that Rosario Dawson now feels extra comfy in Ahsoka’s pores and skin. (And never simply because we noticed extra of it as she took her headpiece off.) No, Ahsoka now feels extra at peace. Calmer. And, in true Star Wars style, the present portrayed that with a brand new, extra cozy outfit that I wish to name Pajama Ahsoka.
Ahsoka sleeps off her near-death expertise and everyone seems to be inquisitive about what everybody else has been as much as. Primarily, although, the query is: the place’s Sabine? Ahsoka takes the damaged map items that Hera discovered and begins to make use of her beforehand established energy of sensing reminiscences by way of objects. It takes a while however she realizes that Sabine is alive and that she herself handed the map to Baylan.
Hera is inspired that not less than Sabine is alive and needs to go after her. The issue is that they’re in one other galaxy which isn’t some easy leap to lightspeed. Ahsoka is left to determine that out as Hera has to cope with the rising subject of the New Republic being tremendous mad at her. With no actual proof to talk of Thrawn or Morgan, Mon Mothma orders Hera and Ahsoka to return to Coruscant for questioning with the notion that Hera could also be completely suspended from her duties. Plus, they’re sending a fleet to return get them. It’s dangerous information for Hera however excellent news is available in from the type of Ahsoka. She’s obtained a plan.
Nobody likes the plan although. The plan, we rapidly study, is for Ahsoka to drag off her finest Ezra Bridger impression and to speak with the Purrgil within the space and see if they will carry her throughout the galaxy to Sabine. The X-Wings head towards the incoming fleet, whereas Hera and Ahsoka’s ships go towards the Purrgil. Jacen particularly is fascinated by this plan as a result of Hera has instructed him the tales of how Ezra saved the day by doing this. Ahsoka and Huyang fly near the largest Purrgil they will discover and she or he will get out of the ship and does her finest to speak with it. In the meantime, the New Republic ships have arrived and whereas Carson Teva tries to stall by mendacity, he finds that telling the completely mad reality works even higher.
Ahsoka connects with the Purrgil and in a full Pinocchio second, she and Huyang land inside its mouth. They don’t know if that is going to work, or the place they’re going, however due to Ahsoka’s extra assured, calm demeanor it definitely looks like it’s the appropriate transfer. The Purrgil go dangerously near the New Republic ships, Ahsoka apologizes to Hera for not having the ability to carry her, they usually make the leap.
“Shadow Warrior” was full of large, lovely Star Wars moments. It additionally lastly gave Ahsoka Tano some much-needed character growth and backstory, on a present along with her identify within the title. The largest subject I had upon a primary watch although was that the Anakin stuff occurs so rapidly and is so densely full of data, it makes the remainder of the episode—Hera, Jacen, the Purrgil—really feel like an entire different present. Clearly, one story is ready in an unexplainable universe, and the opposite is of their actuality, so a distinction is to be anticipated. The pacing distinction between the 2 was massively noticeable although and compelled me to return and watch simply the Ahsoka-Anakin bits to essentially comb them for a thematic throughline.
If that’s the worst drawback, although—that I had to return and re-watch a part of a Star Wars present that’s particularly made for house viewing—possibly it’s not all that dangerous. Plus, Ahsoka is hopefully about to return head to head with the evil Grand Admiral Thrawn and followers would possibly lastly get a solution to the thriller of Ezra Bridger. For the primary time for the reason that begin, it seems like Ahsoka’s story has actual propulsion once more in addition to a brand new outlook on life.
Stream the primary 5 episodes of Ahsoka on Disney Plus here.
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