"Star Wars: Ahsoka" by Dave Filoni (Season 1 - Episode 1): A Blast from the Past

The Star Wars universe has been a very successful franchise since the introduction of the original trilogy namely "Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope" 1977, "The Empire Strikes Back" 1980, and "Return of the Jedi" 1983. The first one was famously directed by the legendary George Lucas.

Disney's "The Mandalorian" is a hugely successful series that gave birth to spin-offs "The Book of Boba Fett", "Ahsoka", and "Skeleton Crew". I already saw Boof of Bobba Fett and of course, all the "The Mandalorian" season that culminates in the Mandalorian taking back their homeworld "Mandalore".

In "Ahsoka" the protagonist Ahsoka Tano starts off by finding a map that leads to the purported location of the empire's Grand Admiral Thrawn to which The Mandalorian has hinted that the brilliant war tactician has been planning his comeback which Ahsoka believes is highly possible because Admiral Thrawn's death was never confirmed.

Ahsoka believes that once Grand Admiral Thrawn resurfaces or he lets his existence known throughout the republic another war will be imminent that is why Ahsoka is so willing to find the admiral and bring him to justice once and for all. Ahsoka has the first step in her plan by acquiring a map in the form of an orb showing the location of the grand admiral.

The Mandalorian shows that Imperial Grand Admiral Thrawn's arrival will rally the remnants of the empire to which if they come together the armada will still be a force to reckon with.

Ahsoka also explores the past of the Jedi Master Ahsoka and her former apprentice Sabine Wren who is also a Mandalorian who lives briefly in Mandalore and still got her Mandalorian helmet. The series also introduces Fallen/Dark Jedi in Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati which thought to have turned into mercenaries.

The first episode also shows that the relationship between the master and apprentice in Ahsoka and Sabine Wren has not been that harmonious, to say the least. At the end of the episode, viewers were treated to the first Lightsaber vs. Lightsaber battle between an apprentice and a former apprentice in Shin Hati and Sabine Wren.

At first glance, the color of the lightsaber of Baylan and Shin seems red but it is actually an orange.

I can't say that episode one of the series is a huge success but it did lay down the foundation for what is to come for the series. The narrative of Imperial Grand Admiral Thrawn was cemented as the main plot of the series with the introduction of two Fallen/Dark Jedi (Master and Apprentice) in Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati the series gave viewers something to look upon on the Jedi plot of the series as well as the past of the former Master and Apprentice in Ahsoka Tano and Sabine Wren.

Those plots are enough for a fan like me to hold on to the series and be interested in watching the next episode. Episode one is also full of mystery even if some of the stories were known before this series.

The fight scene of Ahsoka Tano against droids is nothing short of fantastic (which is what I always look forward to when it comes to Lightsaber duels). Ahsoka's fight scene against the droid left me wanting more. I am hoping that the scenery will give us 2-3 magnificent lightsaber duels.

The case of the duel between an apprentice, Shin Hati, and the former apprentice in Sabine Wren is also lacking to be awesome but that is understandable because we are talking about two apprentices with one having to stop being an apprentice and one being currently an apprentice. Nevertheless, the duel fits the story since both are just apprentices.

I love how did used an orb to contain a map that I have not seen before (or I have just missed some). But the narrative of the orb is somewhat predictable to me. Sabine Wren is known to be a great decoder. Morgan Elsbeth, the prisoner lets Ahsoka Tano find the Orb, and Ahsoka Tano delivers it to Sabine. From there, Morgan Elsbeth will be waiting for the moment when Sabine will be able to decode the Orb and then take it which is what happened at the end of the episode.

I knew Ahsoka knew that it was the plan of Morgan Elsbeth, the prisoner, who was freed by Baylan Skoll.

If I had to choose I would choose episode one of The Mandalorian against this episode one of Ahsoka. But Ahsoka has made me want to see more of the narrative of Thrawn, Fallen/Dark Jedi, and the soon to be again Master and Apprentice in Ahsoka Tano and Sabine Wren. Another thing to look forward to in this series is the existence of the Mandalorian helmet of Sabine Wren under a table which can be seen when Sabine is feeding her pet. Is he going to wear the armor while wielding a lightsaber? That remains to be seen.

All in all, episode one has done a good job of laying down the foundation of each narrative of the series going forward. The narrative of Imperial Grand Admiral Thrawn lets me guess what is to come in the next episode. The narrative of Fallen/Dark Jedi makes me wonder why they become mercenaries even accepting jobs from remnants of the imperial. Are the Fallen/Dark Jedi allegiances on the empire now? Or they are only doing a mercenary mission at their own behest? It remains to be seen. Also, I am very interested to see the relationship between Ahsoka Tano and Sabine Wren from the past. Are they going to mend their differences? Is Sabine going to wear her Mandalorian armor?

Episode one might not be explosive but it did its job of giving the audience something to hold onto and giving hope to fans alike that the series will be very successful just like "The Mandalorian" did.

That is all for now guys, catch you up with the next one. Wishing you all safety, good health, and abundance.