Nobody could have guessed after the negative reception to the 2008 animated movie Star Wars: The Clone Wars that we would be getting a live-action spin-off of one of the most unpopular characters from that film. However, after starring in a majority of The Clone Wars TV show and making special appearances in Star Wars: Rebels, Ahsoka Tano has become a huge fan favorite in a galaxy far, far away. She made her live-action debut portrayed by Rosario Dawson in Season 2 of The Mandalorian before moving on to an episode of The Book of Boba Fett, and now, we have Ahsoka.
The first two episodes premiere on Disney+ soon, and as with all Star Wars content, it is a widely anticipated event for fans. However, this show is off to a rocky start. There are many superb qualities about the show and some not-so-great aspects. Its shining light is its production value. This is a gorgeously crafted opening, with breathtaking translations from animation to live-action. There are many scenes that directly cater to fans of Rebels, feeling like a direct continuation of the characters from that story. It may be alienating to more casual Star Wars watchers, but for the die-hard fans of Clone Wars and Rebels, there is a lot to enjoy with what Ahsoka has to offer.
This show is Dave Filoni’s look at the Star Wars galaxy, and he is the writer of all eight episodes of the season. It’s always interesting to see his voice and what he brings to the franchise, but parts of the show are lacking. The three new villains are uninteresting so far. There is one element of their backstory that could be explored further later on, but from the start, they feel like disposable, power-hungry villains. The actions they perform throughout the show are not despicable enough to warrant a terrifying presence, and it would be a surprise if they left a lasting mark on the franchise.
When your villain’s goal in Ahsoka is to find a better villain from another show, that’s not a good sign. However, that’s what this show is about. Meanwhile, Ahsoka brings in more characters from Rebels, like Hera Syndulla (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo). Winstead and Bordizzo are both excellent actors who sometimes bring their characters to life skillfully and, at other times, are a bit wooden. There are many elements of Rebels that are fantastically translated, such as the way Hera and Chopper interact with each other in perhaps the funniest scene of the two episodes.
However, the pacing is slow, with some shots lasting longer than they should. The tension and ticking clock is not always clear because there is only a vague idea of what will happen if the heroes and villains succeed in their goals, but it has not been attention-grabbing yet. The show lacks a hook that makes you know you need to see what happens next. With Ahsoka Tano, so much of her development happened in The Clone Wars, so you’re left wondering where else they can push this character. They set up a tragic backstory between her and Sabine, leading to a rift in their relationship. It is a good idea, but it currently lacks a strong emotional pull.
Now, let’s talk about the action. Most Star Wars movies and shows feature a lightsaber battle at some point, and these two episodes are no exception. However, these fights lack tension. The climactic fight in the first episode is acceptable, but the fight in the second episode, where Ahsoka fights a faceless assassin and a droid, does not work for a few reasons. A fight scene needs at least one of two things to be compelling: excellent choreography or strong emotions. Darth Vader and Obi-Wan’s fight in the original Star Wars movie does not have good choreography, but the history between the characters is complelling. None of the bad guys in the most recent John Wick movies are particularly investing, but the choreography and direction are so marvelous that it’s fun to watch.
Ahsoka’s fight scene in the second episode has neither. The audience has no reason to care about the villains and the choreography and shot choices are bland for Star Wars. Ahsoka is a strong character, but her adversaries in this scene are weaker than her. There is no worry that she will lose the fight, so there is no tension. If the audience knows she’s on top of things for the entire fight, it makes the fight less interesting. This is why the fights in The Matrix sequels are not as good as the ones in the first Matrix movie. Furthermore, remember when they gave Luke Skywalker a green lightsaber in Return of the Jedi to contrast it with the blue sky? This episode features white lightsabers against a white sky. It does not look as good.
There are a few qualities that make Ahsoka a fun show to watch. Chopper is sure to become even more of a fan favorite with his manic energy. This series has the potential to be one of the best installments in the Star Wars saga, but it needs more fuel in the tank and it needs to pick up soon. From a technical standpoint, the show looks fantastic. From an emotional standpoint, it’s getting there. From an action standpoint, it’s got a long way to go. But if you have been waiting to see Ahsoka take the spotlight ever since you first watched The Clone Wars, you don’t have to worry.
SCORE: 5/10
As ComingSoon’s review policy explains, a score of 5 equates to “Mediocre.” The positives and negatives wind up negating each other, making it a wash.
Disclosure: ComingSoon attended a special fan event for our Ashoka review.
