The new Disney+ Star Wars present Ahsoka instantly drops you into the motion. After a crawl organising the story, we meet two evil Pressure customers on a rescue mission earlier than transferring to the title character who’s on the hunt for a map. There’s no time right here for an in depth backstory. It’s full velocity forward from the very first second. However was {that a} mistake?
Coming into Ahsoka, most viewers fell into principally certainly one of three classes. Possibly you had been an individual who knew every part there was to know (or that you just wanted to know) about Ahsoka Tano. You’d seen The Clone Wars, you’d seen Rebels, you had been able to go. Or possibly you had been an individual who simply knew Ahsoka from her live-action appearances. On The Mandalorian, she’s a mysterious Jedi who helps Mando on his quest with Grogu; on The Ebook of Boba Fett, she’s pleasant with Luke Skywalker and, apparently, additionally together with his father. Or, probably, you had been the third individual. An individual whose greatest connection to Ahsoka is understanding it’s the title of the most recent Star Conflicts Disney+ present.
By beginning the sequence as he did, creator Dave Filoni is usually catering to these first two classes. In the event you knew every part about Ahsoka, you adopted the story and feelings fairly simply. In the event you’ve solely seen Ahsoka on live-action Disney+ exhibits, you get the gist that she’s obtained an essential function to play on this. The query is, what about these different folks? Are they misplaced? Why isn’t there extra for them? And couldn’t everybody have used a refresher?
Normally, in the beginning of a brand new present, you start with a clear slate. Watching the primary episode offers all the knowledge you want. Ahsoka is type of like that however it’s dealt with rather more subtly than one may’ve anticipated. How might issues have been performed otherwise? Let’s hypothesize. As an alternative of starting with a crawl particular to this story, possibly the present might have began prefer it was the primary time anybody had met Ahsoka. Some type of fast montage or explainer on who she is and why she’s essential. Think about Hayden Christensen (and even Matt Lanter) offering a voiceover to a montage that included 4 or 5 iconic Clone Wars beats recreated in live-action. One thing that may’ve set the desk in a a lot simpler method, energized superfans, and in addition given everybody else an opportunity to know why this character is getting this present.
However, after all, the present doesn’t try this. As an alternative, Filoni peppers these essential beats all through the present. A point out of Anakin as her grasp right here. Just a few fast mentions of Ezra there. The entire essential data is within the present. Filoni isn’t avoiding it. However his selection of easy methods to ship it’s an fascinating one. It makes Ahsoka much less a present about “Ahsoka” and extra the subsequent chapter in a bigger story. Which was clearly the intention and a really acutely aware choice.
Plus, data about Ahsoka’s previous is clearly coming in future episodes—the very best proof of which is the rumors that Hayden Christensen will quickly seem on the present. If that’s true, it nearly definitely must be in a flashback (or as a Pressure Ghost). There are extra hints too. For now although, all we all know is that Ahsoka makes a really particular option to make the grandiose previous of the would-be Jedi secondary to the story at hand.
Is one selection higher than the opposite? It’s inconceivable to say with out seeing them each and even then it might be subjective. Frankly, I’m unsure if I might’ve beloved to see some extra spoon-fed backstory beats or if this extra measured method is good. What about you? Tell us what you assume beneath.
Ahsoka is now streaming on Disney+.
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