HOW MUCH AHSOKA, IS ENOUGH AHSOKA?

AUTHOR: TOMMY, AUG 27, 2023

Confessions up top. My knowledge of the character and history of Ahsoka Tano is limited. I'd say I'm more of a 'mainline Star Wars' guy. I am fully aware she's a fan-favorite who has featured in the likes of the animated Clone Wars along with Rebels shows, and while I did enjoy the Tales of the Jedi shorts, her appearances didn't stand out particularly to me. Even so, I've become truly excited for the upcoming Ahsoka series.

Given all that, I have to ask; "to enjoy it, how far should I delve into the extended Ahsoka media before watching the upcoming Disney+ show?"

Is Ahsoka Accessible?

The short answer: that depends on you. By diving head first into 'Ahsoka' with minimal exposure to animated series', results in a quickfire introduction to a bunch of new characters along with their motivations, you know how any normal TV show opens (.. only with a long Star Wars-ian scroll up-top). The premise is also nothing new and if you've seen any other piece of Star Wars media it is pretty standard fare. It pulls on the basic Star Wars tropes: a quest linked to a mysterious macguffin (in this case a map), potential encounters with extraordinary individuals, and a sprinkling of the Sith causing chaos. Ahsoka's debut is all round very accessible.

I was somewhat intrigued by her brief appearances in The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, though the fan fervor surrounding her own show had me seriously puzzled. Again scratching beneath the surface of her history you find a rich tapestry; following Ahsoka's evolution from a cantankerous youngling to a fan-favorite character over 15 or so years. Undeniably she's a formidable figure, however her presence in the Galaxy Far Far Away comes with an air of detachment and disregard for allegiances. There are a lot of intriguing questions surrounding her character.

But again I find myself wondering.. "is not having taken the time to go back going to ruin my enjoyment of the show?"

Grand Admiral Thrawn's Aura Looms While grasping "Ahsoka" without prior context is undeniably feasible, lacking a deep understanding of the interconnected relationships between Ahsoka Tano, Sabine Wren, Hera Syndulla, and Ezra Bridger (all primarily introduced in the first episode) might result in, well, indifference. Based on minimal knowledge of the animated shows, it's clear Ezra Bridger will emerge as a pivotal character, but with the minimal information we're supplied with I'm not sure why I should care. Further, Grand Admiral Thrawn's aura looms - another hugely coveted Star wars character.. who looks cool I guess?

This all leaves you're average viewer in quite a predicament: the series' presumption of 15 year's of familiarly and the emotional bonds that entails, is tough to balance with enticing new(er) viewers to jump, and stay, on the hype train. It's not solely Ahsoka's tale; it's in all but name a sequel to the Rebels show. Reliance on Star Wars tropes means "Ahsoka" will be somewhat accessible, but for those who don't have time to re-watch 75 episodes of Rebels, the stink of recent Star Wars outings on the small screen might make this a tough watch for some.

Ahsoka Will Likely Hit All The Usual Plot Beats So, can "Ahsoka" truly be enjoyed without jumping back and forth through the titular character's history? Sure. The show will likely hit all the usual plot beats of a D+ show, with Rosario Dawson putting in an excellent performance: taking the titular hero from animation to live action, and you might even find more enjoyment in some of the peripheral performances - Sabine Wren for one is a stand out from the get-go.

My excitement though has not waned, but perhaps the weight of fan expectations is why Disney felt compelled to offer an 'in' for new viewers, so if you NEED to know what to watch going in, here is a full list:

1. "Life and Death" (Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi - Episode 1)

2. "Storm Over Ryloth" (Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Season 1, Episode 19)

3. "Lightsaber Lost" (Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Season 2, Episode 11)

4. "Heroes on Both Sides" (Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Season 3, Episode 10)

5. "Altar of Mortis" (Star Wars: The Clone Wars -Season 3, Episode 16)

6. "Padawan Lost" (Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Season 3, Episode 21)

7. "The Wrong Jedi" (Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Season 5, Episode 20)

8. Siege of Mandalore Arc (Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Season 7, Episodes 9-12)

9. "Twilight of the Apprentice" (Star Wars Rebels - Season 2, Episodes 21-22)

10. "The Jedi" (The Mandalorian - Season 2, Episode 5)