We were invited to see the first two episodes of the highly anticipated Star Wars series. In episodes 1 and 2, the Ahsoka (Dawson) is introduced through a search for an ancient map. A map that is also in hot pursuit for its whereabouts by the Empire. The prize – locating the Grand Admiral Thrawn, who the Empire believes will reunite the remaining remnants of the Empire, and bring about a new galactic war!
Set after the fall of the Empire, “Ahsoka” follows the former Jedi knight Ahsoka Tano as she investigates an emerging threat to a vulnerable galaxy.
What unfolds is a chess board of characters, perfectly placed to set the scene from which to spur your imagination. Ahsoka teams up with Sabine, alongside droid Huyang (played by David Tennant); who are set against the late Ray Stevenson’s Baylan Skoll and his apprentice Shin Hati (played by Ivanna Sakhno).
The episodes themselves were filled with everything that makes fans fall in love with Star Wars. Most importantly was how the first episodes took time to set the scene of what is to come. But at the same time, did not linger on plots, which made the two episodes all the more enjoyable.
The series is streaming on Disney+ from the 23rd August 2023
For those not familiar with the characters, we’ve outlined a few key data points to bring you up to speed:
- Ahsoka Tano is a former Jedi Knight who served as the Padawan learner to the Jedi Anakin Skywalker during the Clone Wars. Attuned to the light side of the Force, Ahsoka grew into a formidable fighter before the Empire’s reign changed the course of galactic history.
- Sabine Wren is a Mandalorian warrior. Independent by nature, during the age of the Empire a young Sabine defected from the Imperial Academy of Mandalore and joined a small rebel cell operating out of the Ghost and led by Hera Syndulla and the Jedi Knight Kanan Jarrus. With a gift for colorful explosives and uniquely-painted beskar, Sabine’s signature starbird — a mark she left to sign her street art and other handiwork — inspired what would become the symbol for the Rebel Alliance.
- Baylan Skoll is lightsaber-wielding mercenary for hire overseeing his apprentice Shin Hati. But make no mistake: although there was a time when Skoll knew the acclaimed Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, Baylan is no Jedi. Now allied to Morgan Elsbeth, the former Magistrate of Calodan.
Collaboration Review by Shamoon – CKN
Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson) returns in the prequel Disney+ series ‘Ahsoka’ set 7 years after the fall of the Empire. A valuable prisoner escapes the New Republic custody and thus a search for answers reunites two very familiar faces.
Part One: ‘Master And Apprentice’
Part One opens up with a scene on a deserted planet, built by the Nightsisters of Dathomir. Somewhere in this planet is an old map, which contains the location of an enemy, Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson) is trying to find it. Her intel from Morgan Elsbeth (Diana Lee Inosanto) the former Imperial magistrate has resources at her disposal, but as the crew of this rebel prisoner transport discovers.. We are introduced to the main protagonist Baylan Skoll, a former Jedi Knight and now sith-like mercenary (Ray Stevenson) and a new character his force sensitive apprentice Shin Hati (Ivanna Sakhno)
There’s some good lightsaber combat within the first two episodes, you see that of Ahsoka’s skill as she’s accustomed to using the two dual lightsabers at her disposal, with a badass use of the sabers cutting the floor in the ruins.
I can say it had a slow start, but the episodes were very interesting start off this series I was throughly entertained viewing these exclusively on the IMAX format! Star Wars Rebels fans especially will be will be more than excited with seeing familiar faces. Ahsoka series continues after where Star Wars Rebel ends. The first episode gave exposition on the timeline, Ahsoka’s current situation, the main protagonist, and some characters reunited to the fold such as Sabine Wren, General Hera Syndulla, Ezra Bridget vaguely features as a hologram.
The theme of ‘Masters and Apprentices’ is very strong within this first episode. We see Sabine (Natasha Liu Bordizzo) is a very prominent part of the first as she is Ahsoka’s padawan and never truly finished her Jedi training. Ahsoka hadn’t seen her for a long time and it seemed after the events of The Galactic Civil War and Star War: Rebel it seemed their relationship fell apart. During Part One, you can see that was something Sabine was dealing with as she tried to locate the whereabouts of Ezra, as his current whereabouts is unknown. We also saw the return of Syndulla (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) a prominent member of the ghost crew, who was a great live action casting for her character.
I really liked the introduction of these new characters. I have to give full credit to the late great Ray Stevenson, for delivering an engrossing performance from the moment he enters the scene. There is a clear menacing energy of power and distrust, which you feel right before he uses his lightsaber. Sabine’s rebel like highway bike scene was very entertaining as well as her character’s way. The way she dealt with the HK droids showed she’s still that warrior, but once her brief lightsaber encounter l with Shin Hati came, that lack of Jedi training could’ve been her demise which was definitely an interesting way to end the first episode.
As far as sound and production design goes, it was phenomenal! I think it really made the episodes more enjoyable that it was accompanied by the IMAX sound design and it felt it was made for the big screen!
My only gripe with this episode is again the use of a map being a plot device. It had some classic Star Wars tropes and other than that so far so good!
