This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labour of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie/series/feature being covered here wouldn't exist.
"Ahsoka: Episode 1 wastes no time in reacquainting the rebels back into the Star Wars universe."
BY ELLIOT LINES AUGUST 25, 2023
Star Wars is back, this time in the form of a new series, Ahsoka. The 8 part series will be released weekly on Disney Plus, with the first two episodes having aired on August 23. Unlike Marvel, the Star Wars franchise seems to be rejuvenated with the success of The Mandalorian and Andor, fatigue doesn't seem to be a thing, and early indications here are that Ahsoka will not cause that to happen.
We begin in classic Star Wars fashion, an opening crawl. Setting up the location in the timeline, this places us after the end of Rebels, maybe a little further down the line that some expected. This leads us to a New Republic ship carrying the prisoner of Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson), Lady Morgan Elsbeth (Diana Lee Inosanto). Elsbeth is believed to know how to find Grand Admiral Thrawn, and potentially Ezra Bridger. When former Jedi Baylan Skoll (Ray Stevenson) and his apprentice, Shin Hati (Ivanna Sakhno), attack the cruiser they rescue Elsbeth and now seek to track down Ahsoka. This whole beginning sequence showcases once again the power of force users, and how god damn awesome it is to see on screen once again. Baylan and Shin are fairly unknown entities here, but prove they'll be vital villains to the story alongside Elsbeth, who we have come across before.
Ahsoka meanwhile is on an unknown planet, searching for a relic that may lead her to Thrawn. While finding the relic/map seems fairly easy, that's when a group of HK-87 assassins show up to make her life a little less comfortable. She comfortable despatches of the droids, but they've got a self-destruct sequence up their sleeves, and destruction is what they cause. Running for her life Ahsoka only just makes it, with the help of droid Huyang (David Tennant).
The series doesn't waste much time reacquainting the Rebels once again. Ahsoka quickly meets up with Hera Syndulla (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), discussing what to do next they decide one person that can help them solve the map, Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo). This quick introduction gets the episode moving and a good pace, we have a little insight into what each on of the is doing after Rebels, and through their quick interactions we know the feelings towards each other. Yet they all have one goal, bring Ezra back.
There is much focus on Sabine Wren throughout this episode. We learn where she resides and the rebellious nature is definitely still there. We also learn of her training she had with Ahsoka, which is mentioned multiple times. Once they do cross paths again the relationship is certainly icy, and needs a little restoration, but to find out how to read the map is the most important thing. As Hera expected, Wren is able to crack the code for the map (which didn't look all that difficult), but before she is able to document all the knowledge assassin droids show up with Shin Hati to spoil the party, taking the map with her.