Latest Star Wars Series Snips Fans Expectations
"Ahsoka" brings the animated series to live action with a resounding "meh."
By Davis Jones
"Ahsoka" brings the animated series to live action with a resounding "meh."
By Davis Jones
Fan favorite Jedi knight and hero of the Clone Wars, Ahsoka Tano gets her chance to shine in a galaxy far, far away as the star of the new Disney+ original “Ahsoka” which began streaming Aug. 22.
Made as a sequel to the animated series “Star Wars Rebels,” “Ahsoka” brings many characters, creatures and locations from “Rebels” to live-action for the first time. Set after the fall of the Galactic Empire, the show follows the titular Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson), as she goes on a mission with fellow rebel Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo) to prevent the return of the exiled antagonist Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen, returning to play the character he previously voiced).
“Ahsoka” doesn’t take many risks with its storytelling, relying on action that’s fairly standard for Star Wars and a fair bit of fan service to keep viewers entertained. A lot of the time the show wants viewers to stick around to see their favorite animated characters appear in live-action rather than tell a unique and interesting original story about Ahsoka herself. The only episode that felt like it was about her was in episode five when Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) returns to teach Ahsoka a final lesson. However, even this episode relies on fan service to keep viewers entertained using “Clone Wars” flashbacks and a Captain Rex (Temuera Morrison) cameo.
Not only does “Ahsoka” not feel like her own series but Dawson’s portrayal doesn’t feel like the same Ahsoka fans know and love. Dawson lacks the charm and spunk that the character’s animated voice actress, Ashley Eckstein has. Dawson’s portrayal of Ahsoka feels very boring unless she’s actively fighting someone with a lightsaber.
The only new characters introduced in “Ahsoka” are some of the best performances, Force-using mercenaries Baylan Skoll (Ray Stevenson) and Shin Hati (Ivanno Sakhno). Both feel like threats all the time and are compellingly different from your average Imperial Inquisitor or Sith Lord. Regrettably, it is unlikely we will see Baylan Skoll in live-action again due to Stevenson’s unfortunate passing.
Despite relying on fan service and not being very original, “Ahsoka” still manages to be somewhat entertaining and fun to watch despite it not feeling very fulfilling. The series uses its last few minutes to set up three potential other projects which just makes “Ahsoka” feel like a soulless attempt to make more money when this show would’ve felt way more natural as an animated season five of “Star Wars Rebels.”
All in all, “Ahsoka” is not a bad show. However, the vast majority of it feels so unoriginal and uninspired. If you like the animated Star Wars shows and seeing your favorite characters return as fan service, you’re probably going to thoroughly enjoy “Ahsoka,” but otherwise there is little to no reason to watch it besides being up to date with the “Star Wars” franchise.
All episodes of “Ahsoka” are now streaming on Disney+.
Made as a sequel to the animated series “Star Wars Rebels,” “Ahsoka” brings many characters, creatures and locations from “Rebels” to live-action for the first time. Set after the fall of the Galactic Empire, the show follows the titular Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson), as she goes on a mission with fellow rebel Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo) to prevent the return of the exiled antagonist Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen, returning to play the character he previously voiced).
“Ahsoka” doesn’t take many risks with its storytelling, relying on action that’s fairly standard for Star Wars and a fair bit of fan service to keep viewers entertained. A lot of the time the show wants viewers to stick around to see their favorite animated characters appear in live-action rather than tell a unique and interesting original story about Ahsoka herself. The only episode that felt like it was about her was in episode five when Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) returns to teach Ahsoka a final lesson. However, even this episode relies on fan service to keep viewers entertained using “Clone Wars” flashbacks and a Captain Rex (Temuera Morrison) cameo.
Not only does “Ahsoka” not feel like her own series but Dawson’s portrayal doesn’t feel like the same Ahsoka fans know and love. Dawson lacks the charm and spunk that the character’s animated voice actress, Ashley Eckstein has. Dawson’s portrayal of Ahsoka feels very boring unless she’s actively fighting someone with a lightsaber.
The only new characters introduced in “Ahsoka” are some of the best performances, Force-using mercenaries Baylan Skoll (Ray Stevenson) and Shin Hati (Ivanno Sakhno). Both feel like threats all the time and are compellingly different from your average Imperial Inquisitor or Sith Lord. Regrettably, it is unlikely we will see Baylan Skoll in live-action again due to Stevenson’s unfortunate passing.
Despite relying on fan service and not being very original, “Ahsoka” still manages to be somewhat entertaining and fun to watch despite it not feeling very fulfilling. The series uses its last few minutes to set up three potential other projects which just makes “Ahsoka” feel like a soulless attempt to make more money when this show would’ve felt way more natural as an animated season five of “Star Wars Rebels.”
All in all, “Ahsoka” is not a bad show. However, the vast majority of it feels so unoriginal and uninspired. If you like the animated Star Wars shows and seeing your favorite characters return as fan service, you’re probably going to thoroughly enjoy “Ahsoka,” but otherwise there is little to no reason to watch it besides being up to date with the “Star Wars” franchise.
All episodes of “Ahsoka” are now streaming on Disney+.