Ahsoka episodes 1 and 2 review: Double, double toil and trouble

Let’s talk about the excellent first two episodes of the new Ahsoka series!

Finally!

The first two episodes of the hotly anticipated Star Wars series Ahsoka have dropped on Disney Plus, and… I am surprisingly pleased for the most part. From sick lightsaber fights to eyebrow-raising plot twists, Ahsoka has (so far) relieved some of the PTSD Kenobi instilled in me.

What I mean by that is that Ahsoka and her friends’s characters from Rebels seem to be true to their previously established essence, and the show uses lore that we actually want to see – especially with Grand Admiral Thrawn being included.

I’ll be talking about the first two episodes below, so PLEASE BE WARNED – THERE ARE SPOILERS INCOMING!

Let’s set our hyperdrives and go, shall we?

Ahsoka Episode 1 review – Part One: Master and Apprentice

I was immediately excited to see Ahsoka start out with scrolling text, only to become angry about it shortly after. Disney has taken it upon itself to call Ahsoka a “former Jedi Knight”, which is painfully wrong and kind of a big red flag. Do they not know their own lore? Ahsoka Tano left the Jedi Order after being framed for a bombing at the Jedi temple, when she was still only a Padawan under Anakin Skywalker. She never achieved the rank of Knight. Ever.

But that’s a conversation for another time.

Ahsoka’s maiden voyage starts with an epic and refreshing lightsaber clash. An awesome opener reminiscent of scenes from Rogue One and A New Hope, as Sith Lord Baylan and his apprentice Shin completely destroy the crew keeping Morgan Elsbeth prisoner after Ahsoka captures her. Following this exciting intro to the series and the villains, we see Ahsoka looking for a star map while on the planet Arcana, getting it, and then showcasing her impeccable saber skills as she’s attacked by assassin droids. It felt so good to watch her kick ass with such skill.

From Hera’s heartwarming appearance to the droid Huyang’s quirky Jedi-obsession, the ensemble cast creates a fascinating dynamic. But who stole the show? Sabine Wren, of course—making a dramatic escape from a ceremony honoring Ezra, herself, and Hera in Lothal, then reappearing as Ahsoka’s former “apprentice” (air quotes necessary because I have opinions that will also be saved for another time).

She takes the star map from Ahsoka after being explicitly asked not to and much to nobody’s surprised, is followed home and attacked. She pulls out a lightsaber – which made me raise en eyebrow – and it lights up green, which fans will recognize as Ezra’s saber. She puts up a good fight against Shin, the Sith apprentice, but is stabbed just as Ahsoka and Huyang arrive for backup.

Huyang’s humor was an instant classic. Ahsoka’s inconsistent Jedi-or-not-Jedi status? Kinda infuriating.  But again, now is not the time for me to give you a TED Talk.

Still, by the time the episode wraps, we’re left wide-eyed and full of questions: What’s the map for? Is Morgan a friend or foe? Where on Earth – or rather, galaxy – is Thrawn? Is Sabine okay?

The first episode definitely kept me invested and guessing as the plot evolved. The amount of lore used in the show thus far, especially in the opening episode, exceeded my expectations and made me a very happy viewer. The portrayal of the lady trio – Ahsoka, Sabine, and Hera – is on point, with each actress embodying what made their characters so special and loved for years.

Ahsoka Episode 2 review – Part Two: Toil and Trouble

Turns out Sabine is just fine and recovering well – though Shin delivered a really nice and stabby blow, she managed to miss all of Sabine’s vital organs. While Ahsoka isn’t thrilled that the assassin droids made off with the star map, the plot thickens as they’re able to trace it back to Corellia when Sabine hacks into one of said droids’ programming.

Hera, the badass General, flexes her diplomacy muscles in an amazing exchange with Wyn, a businessman in charge of Morgan Elsbeth secret factories that still function in Corellia. These factories were embedded in Corellia’s shipyard, and were used for the Empire’s manufacturing assassin droids, transports, and any other kind of tool or ship needed to fight the Rebellion during the war. It’s then revealed that Morgan has been creating a ship called the Eye of Sion, which will help liberate Grand Admiral Thrawn from whatever galaxy he’s in, bringing him back into the action.

Sith Lord Baylan sends Shin to Corellia to assist Morgan, and we’re introduced to a third red lightsaber-wielding person. Their helmet and costume totally resembles a medieval knight, but Star Wars style, which I thought was really cool – just like their awesome saber hilt. But who is this person? There can only be two Siths at once, the Master and the Apprentice, or so do the old rules state. Could this a leftover Inquisitor from the Empire days? Did the rules change? I cannot keep up with these rule changes, they hurt my old brain.

Hera follows an assassin droid escaping with the star map and is able to slap a tracking device on its transporter’s hull before it uses its hyperdrive to jump deep into space, which successfully tracks them to the planet Seatos.

Disney allows Sabine, played by Australian actress Natasha Liu Bordizzo, who is of Asian descent, to pull a classic Mulan move as she sits down facing her Mandalorian helmet and chops her hair off with a blade.

Morgan continues to be as cool as she is captivating as she uses the star map in Seatos, revealing the path to Peridea – a distant galaxy with ancient beings, where she believes Thrawn was banished to. She reveals that her ship, the Eye of Sion, is almost ready, only needing a hyperdrive installed.

Ahsoka and Sabine’s relationship seems to have soured, pinning Hera in the middle as a mediator trying to get them to work together, and it does pay off. Also, Ahsoka, why are you using Jedi terminology as if you are one? Ahsoka throwing around terms like she’s going through a Jedi midlife crisis, not correcting anyone when she is called a Jedi like she has done in the past (i.e., telling Vader in Rebels “I am no Jedi”), and calling Sabine her “Padawan” only makes me more irritated with this incredibly Forced (ha) Jedi-again subplot.

If these first two episodes are any indication, Ahsoka is shaping up to be full of suspense, drama, and deep, much needed lore. The story keeps you guessing while doing Star Wars traditions justice and bringing some much loved and awaited characters and details to life.

Despite some hiccups – particularly around Ahsoka’s Jedi status – the series is doing what Kenobi failed to do: stay true to the lore and, so far, keep the fan service down to a minimum. I’m hoping and expecting the story to go deeper into the ignored forgotten lores of Star Wars, and bring a fresh tale of good versus evil that we can all enjoy as fans of this complex and intense franchise.

So far, one thing’s for sure: This is Star Wars storytelling at its most intricate and engaging. Episode 3 will be coming out on Tuesday, August 29th only on Disney+.

What did you make of Ahsoka‘s two-episode season premiere? Will you be returning to watch more episodes of this Star Wars saga?