The future of Star Wars is better off in the hands of Dave Filoni, and Ahsoka proves exactly that. In the latest chapter of the "Mandoverse", former Jedi Knight Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson) investigates an emerging threat to the New Republic's blindly vulnerable galaxy.
Firstly, some context. As a huge fan of Star Wars: Rebels, I went into this series with a heightened level of excitement due to the links to the popular animated series. With all of the character and narrative connections, it seemed like this series would be almost a continuation of Rebels. Having now seen the series in its entirety, I can confirm that this is undoubtedly season five of Star Wars: Rebels. There's a greater focus on Ahsoka Tano, hence the title, but everything from the characters to the story is a direct continuation of the animated series. As a result, I have a much greater level of investment in these characters, having followed them over nearly five years. However, that being said, Rebels is not essential viewing for this series. Yes, it gives you a great deal of backstory and a stronger emotional attachment to the series headliners, but the bulk of this journey is accessible for any and every newcomer. Any pivotal information, of which there is little, is conveyed through dialogue that gives you all you need to know to understand the weight of the narrative.
Right from the first episode, it's clear that Ahsoka is moving and building towards something huge. Not only something huge for this series, but for the universe as a whole. The mystery, tension and intrigue is palpable right from the opening sequence, and it's remarkably well maintained throughout the entire season. Between Ahsoka and Sabine's grand search and the evil efforts of Morgan Elsbeth's crew, there's enough plot progression in each episode to keep you locked in. Even in sequences where the plot may not be pushed forward, time is very well spent on fleshing out the characters and showing how certain events have shaped their outlook. Those looking for a series that moves at a blistering pace may be in for a shock. There's ample lightsaber action and space combat to ramp up the excitement factor, but the majority is a slow-burn suspense thriller centered around Ahsoka and Sabine's master-apprentice relationship, and the impending arrival of a dangerous threat.
Every episode, short and long, is packed with heartfelt character moments, spine-chilling tension and classic Star Wars action. There's never a dull moment as the series builds to its climax, balancing all of these elements flawlessly. As much as it's telling a narrative of enormous scale, it's still a series about Ahsoka Tano, and that's felt through nearly every single episode. The character we see at the beginning of episode one is a far cry from the one we see at the finale's climax. She has to overcome a series of hurdles and the demons of her past in order to get out of the rut she's stuck in. Her connection with Sabine is at the forefront of every episode - there's history there that we're not sure about and they're maybe not on the best of terms. The way their bond ebbs and flows through the season is deeply fascinating, showcasing Dave Filoni's exceptional ability to write compelling characters. If anyone knows how to write these characters, it's the man who created and has been in charge of developing them over the years.
Dave Filoni's writing talents aren't just on full show in regards to the characters, but also in terms of the way he builds tension across episodes. Moreso than any other Star Wars series, Ahsoka seems like it would play best as one long, continuous 6-hour narrative. As much as the pace is very slow and methodical, the consistency at which it progresses is what creates this eerie, gripping tension. It's never stagnant and never exhibits a lapse in suspense - it does provide some brief moments of reprieve, but never long enough to lose sight of the end goal. As the story progresses into the final act, that being the final three episodes, the tension and edge-of-seat thrills are thrust through the roof. The story's climax contains some of the most awesome, exciting and terrifying content, to the point where I found myself inadvertently holding my breath in sheer suspense and anticipation for what would happen next. Overall, the quality of the storytelling is so exceptional, there's not a single element that I believe could be improved upon.
The series may be focused on Ahsoka Tano, but it's the breadth of compelling supporting characters that really elevate it. Specifically, the new blood in Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati are two of the most riveting and intriguing characters in this entire show. Every episode had me eager and waiting to learn more about who they are and what their role in this story is. Baylan Skoll contributes greatly to the mysterious vibe of the series, holding his breadth of knowledge close to his chest. The characters are written and acted so well, they could have easily carried an entire series on their own. Ray Stevenson lends his acting talents to Baylan and he is phenomenal, delivering what would without a doubt be the best performance of the series if it weren't for Rosario Dawson's lead. His every line of dialogue would send a chill down my spine - he has some of the best quotes of the season and he dishes them out with this gravity that no one else in here is even remotely capable of. It's really just unfortunate that Ray passed away before he could see the impact his character has had on this series.
Speaking on the rest of the cast, Natasha Liu Bordizzo is instantly charming in the role of Sabine, doing justice to her animated counterpart and translating the character into live action very well. She has plenty of charm and she plays very well alongside Rosario Dawson's Ahsoka. A surprise inclusion is that of David Tennant as Huyang, an ancient droid of the Jedi Order. David infectious wit and loveable nature shines through, even though all we have to go off is his voice. Without getting into spoilers, this series does see the return of Grand Admiral Thrawn, played by the very same actor who played the character in Star Wars: Rebels, Lars Mikkelsen. With Lars' spine-chilling performance, Thrawn is set up to be one of the best characters in all of the Star Wars universe. He was already incredible in Rebels, but his appearance here has only solidified him as one of the greatest threats and minds the Rebellion/New Republic has ever seen.
The one and only Kevin Kiner is yet another alum bought over from Star Wars: Rebels to produce this series' score, and what a brilliant job he's done. To say I had chills down my spine would be an understatement. I was constantly in awe at the breathtaking music he produced for some of the series' biggest and most heartfelt moments. Through blending shades of John Williams' iconic score with his own original pieces, he's created some truly magical themes that effectively capture the magic of Star Wars. There may have even been a tear or two in the season's closing moments due to the emotion pumped into the scene by his score.
As is to be expected, there's no shortage of action in Ahsoka. From thrilling lightsaber duels to mesmerising space battles, there's more than enough epic action to go around. Speaking specifically on the lightsaber duels, this contains some of the best battles we've seen in all of Star Wars. They mostly adopt a simpler approach inspired by samurai duels and fighting styles in Eastern cultures. There's a lot of Japanese influences throughout the entire series (and OG Star Wars of course) but the combat may be one of the strongest. I can't say who battles who and which battles stand out as being the best, but just know that there are some excellent duels that do not disappoint.
The exhilarating space battles pave the way for what is yet another huge praise for the series - this may have the best visuals of all the Star Wars TV shows. Not only does all of the ground-based content look exquisite, but there's a few key space sequences that are so breathtaking they deserve to be seen on the big screen. I'm sure The Volume was once again used for the production of this series, but it never really felt like it. The sets and scenery were designed in a way that didn't give away the restrictions something like The Volume puts on filming action or large spaces. It's not a major element, but it all helps in immersing you into every scene.
In the end, this has been the best season of Star Wars TV yet, surpassing anything The Mandalorian, Andor and others have put out. As a Star Wars: Rebels fan, there is absolutely a certain level of bias that goes into my opinion due to having a prior attachment to these characters, but that's not something I can turn off. Dave Filoni has crafted an exceptionally well-written season of TV that is jam-packed with action, thrills, compelling character relationships and huge stakes for the wider universe. Backed by great performances led by Rosario Dawson's stellar return as Ahsoka, this is about as good as Star Wars TV could be... until something else comes along to prove me wrong.
10/10
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