An episode of Ahsoka filled with suspense and sabers, but can someone please rewire the dialogue?
Episode 4 of the much-anticipated Ahsoka series whips up a dish that’s as contradictory as Tatooine’s dual suns – simultaneously abundant and lacking. Titled “Fallen Jedi,” this episode lays out a space opera buffet, complete with sizzling lightsaber duels, plot twists, and a side dish of beloved characters. Every element you’d want from the Star Wars universe is here, like a culinary spread where Yoda’s root leaf stew shares the table with Endorian Tip-Yip.
However… for all its garnish, “Fallen Jedi” also serves us some less-than-satisfying spoonfuls. The dialogue often feels like… reheated leftovers. The character development could have used a dash more seasoning and less spice (looking at you, Sabine). While the episode plates up enough action and intrigue that could make even a Hoth ice storm feel warm, the conversations between our heroes have the emotional depth of a Dagobah swamp, shallow and a bit murky.
This makes the episode both a feast for the eyes and a famine for our spirit, leaving us to wonder if the next course will fully satisfy our Star Wars cravings.
Let’s chop it up, shall we?
(I’m so sorry about the food metaphors, it’s almost lunch time.)
Warning: there will be spoilers below! Read at your own risk!
Ahsoka episode 4″Fallen Jedi” review
The story arc continues to unfold as Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson), Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo), and Huyang (David Tennant) find themselves orbiting some interpersonal tension. Ah yes, the Jedi’s dilemma, moral duty vs. personal attachment – as old as Yoda’s baby pictures – but it doesn’t offer us anything new.
Let’s touch on the elephant in the room: the fate of Ezra Bridger and Grand Admiral Thrawn.
Here’s the problem: If you didn’t catch Star Wars Rebels, you’d think Ahsoka is being cryptic for the sake of being dramatic. We get it, Thrawn’s bad news, but how about a storyline that does justice to Rebels‘ legacy without potentially annoying and confusing new fans?
General Hera Syndulla’s (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) appearance had the potential to be as iconic as Leia’s in The Force Awakens. Instead, we get a somewhat forced one-liner: “Once a rebel, always a rebel.” Really? Haven’t we heard that before? Oh right, the Rogue One trailer.
And speaking of forced entries, why include Carson Teva from The Mandalorian and not Zeb Orrelios, the lovable Lasat from Rebels? If he doesn’t make a triumphant return, we’ll riot. Zeb is a character who’s hard to forget. With his towering frame, violet fur, and a combat style that could only be described as “brute force ballet,” Zeb provided both muscle and humor to the Ghost crew. His camaraderie with other crew members, whether it’s his banter with Ezra Bridger or his respect for everyone’s favorite war criminal, the spicy droid Chopper, added layers to his personality and a vibrant dynamic to the crew’s interactions. Having him in the show would be the icing on the cake, and it needs to happen.
But let’s not be all doom and gloom about this episode – it’s the only Ahsoka episode that hasn’t made me turn into a smaller version of She-Hulk yet (I’m only 4’11”). The visuals are stunning. The gorgeous and really exciting lightsaber duels set against a backdrop of a beautifully haunting red forest looked like it was straight out of a wallpaper. Ahsoka’s duel with Inquisitor Marrok was less a fight and more a ballet of blades, a nod to her samurai influences that we first saw in her Mandalorian debut. And Baylan Skoll (rest easy, Ray Stevenson), our fallen Jedi, brings depth to what could easily be a forgettable villain.
And then there’s Sabine Wren. This Mandalorian doesn’t need the Force. Her clever use of a wristdart against
Hottie
Hati is a delightful moment of “use what you’ve got,” a lesson right out of the Kanan Jarrus playbook.
Ah, yes. Let’s talk about the end. The World Between Worlds twist is a jaw-dropper, indeed. But the de-aged CGI version of Hayden Christensen as Anakin…… I thought I was watching a video game cutscene, not what should have been an emotional reunion between Master and Padawan. Also, not sure if anyone else noticed: Anakin does not have the blue glow of a Force ghost and he does not have the scar next to his right eyebrow. Is he a ghost? An illusion? A figment of her imagination? That remains to be seen next week.
“Fallen Jedi” stuns with its lightsaber duels and plot twists. But it’s those moments of flat dialogue and underdeveloped characters that knock the wind out of its sails. As we near the season’s halfway mark, here’s hoping Ahsoka and company can find their footing.
Whether you’re here for the lightsaber choreography, the Rebels lore, or just because Rosario Dawson’s Ahsoka is too cool for school, episode 4 is a rocky ride that both thrills and frustrates.
Buckle up, folks – we’re in for a bumpy hyperspace jump.