Ahsoka - from a writing POV

[GlennJenko]

I'm a self-confessed Star Wars nerd and I enjoy most everything Star Wars that is put out post-Disney acquisition, save for Episode IX, Solo and the back half of Mandalorian season 2.5 - I mean, Book of Boba Fett. I guess also a warning for spoilers, given Idk how to use the spoiler function on here.

That disclaimer out of the way, I'm absolutely loving Ahsoka. It's a bit clunky, sure, the dialogue is a little rough in places. But this is Star Wars, when isn't that the case? The first few episodes were a little slow, yes, but it didn't bother, because it all felt like it was building to something, which it was - episode 4. Wow, that one was brilliant. It was a great culmination of the first half of the season and lead well into what was to come next. Episode 5 was absolutely stellar, too. Having Hayden back was beautiful and he absolutely nailed it. And it wasn't even like it was a random cameo for no reason, it really served the plot as to why he was there given what Ahsoka was feeling at that point.

Speaking of, episodes 4 and 5 were where Ahsoka herself really shined. I think Rosario was a great pick for Ahsoka and enjoyed her in her prior performances, but in this series it's seemed she's really settled into the role and especially in how Ahsoka was holding herself back, but those 2 episodes led her into a different Ahsoka a little more at peace with herself - Ahsoka The White, as she's been nicknamed.

To save this turning into a full on rant, I''l finish. t's been my favourite piece of live-action Star Wars since The Last Jedi (yes, I love that film) and the Ahsoka series has made me feel more in love with Star Wars than I have been since then too. I'm super interested to see the finale and to see what kind of cliffhanger the show will be left on, given we know it's heading towards Filoni's film (which I expect/hope will be titled Heir To The Empire).

 

[CyranoJ]

To save this turning into a full on rant, I''l finish. t's been my favourite piece of live-action Star Wars since The Last Jedi (yes, I love that film) and the Ahsoka series has made me feel more in love with Star Wars than I have been since then too. I'm super interested to see the finale and to see what kind of cliffhanger the show will be left on, given we know it's heading towards Filoni's film (which I expect/hope will be titled Heir To The Empire).

I'm a fellow TLJ fan. Bit "meh" on Ahsoka: I love Dawson's work and Ray Stevenson (RIP) as Lord Baylan won me over. Been a fan of Shin from day one. I've struggled to connect with Sabine at basically every point (as seen in the series she's a... frustrating character to put it mildly), but that's about how she's written: the actress has done fine work. Lots of cool shit to appreciate. Thrawn is tonally perfect, even when it sounds like he's rationalizing defeat as victory.

I'm more mystified than ever about where the larger story is going. What is Lord Baylan's obscure quest about? When exactly is somebody going to tell Ezra that Grand Admiral Thrawn is the only ticket back to the main galaxy (it has better be soon)? Presumably Shin will join back up with Thrawn... or will she? He clearly gives no shits about "the mercenaries" beyond their immediate utility. It's quite the tangle to try to resolve in one episode... assuming they care to do so.

 

[GlennJenko]

Ray Stevenson (RIP) as Lord Baylan won me over.

He's been absolutely brilliant and it's so sad to know that unless he dies in the finale we'll never get to see exactly what happens with him and whatever his quest is.

in the series she's a... frustrating character to put it mildly

I agree, but I'm actually liking it. She's lost, in much the same way Ahsoka was. She's acting rashly because, as Baylan said, she feels like Ezra is all she has left. She needs what Ahsoka got, which is her Master telling her that her failures don't define her, she's more than what she perceives herself as and can't let what happened to her define her forever. But yes, I'm also loving Natasha's portrayal of her. A shoutout as well to Eman Esfandi, absolutely perfect casting for Ezra.

Thrawn is tonally perfect, even when it sounds like he's rationalizing defeat as victory.

I think Thrawn has been brilliant. He's such a masterful tactician that he can turn what seems like a defeat into an eventual victory. As he says at the end of the latest episode, while the Night Troopers failed tactically, they still strategically won because it made the heroes waste a bunch of time they didn't have.

I'm more mystified than ever about where the larger story is going

Me too. I expect there'll be quite the cliffhanger leading into either an Ahsoka season 2 or just to Filoni's film. If I had to make some guesses, I think Thrawn will take Shin back in. He can find some use for her, especially when she's the only lightsaber-wielding person he has when they're up against three. I also suspect the heroes will piggyback on the Eye of Sion somehow and return to the main galaxy. Possibly then there'll be some kind of a battle that results in Thrawn getting away at the end.

A lot to theorise for sure, but I'm really just along for the ride.

PS. Always good to see a fellow TLJ fan!

 

[Willpkirk]

I think Thrawn has been brilliant. He's such a masterful tactician that he can turn what seems like a defeat into an eventual victory. As he says at the end of the latest episode, while the Night Troopers failed tactically, they still strategically won because it made the heroes waste a bunch of time they didn't have

It's more than that with Thrawn, he always believes that any engagement where you don't die is a victory, he sees everything as the big picture, doesn't matter if you lose 1 skirmish if you come back and win the war. He is always learning about his opponents

 

[oneagainst]

Thread drift, but meanwhile in the other universe, struggling through Picard season 2. How in the ever loving fuck did that ever get past the script review stage? Same question with Boba Fett, and Obi Wan. I've no doubt that most of the contributors to this thread have written smoother dialogue and more interesting plot lines than the pros in these studios. Even half blind drunk, would you not have done a better job on even basic plot editing?

I'm saving up Ahsoka to binge all at once. If it's like the above... it's like the man said. You can get further with a kind word and a red lightsaber than you can with a kind word alone

 

[Naughty_Natalie]

My husband is a life long SW fan and by extension I have become one. We never got into the animated series but since Ahsoka started we have been working through TCW and moving on to Rebels after. I have enjoyed Ahsoka so far. Its up there with Mandalorian, Andor and Rogue One for me.

 

[lavendersilk]

Thread drift, but meanwhile in the other universe, struggling through Picard season 2. How in the ever loving fuck did that ever get past the script review stage? Same question with Boba Fett, and Obi Wan. I've no doubt that most of the contributors to this thread have written smoother dialogue and more interesting plot lines than the pros in these studios. Even half blind drunk, would you not have done a better job on even basic plot editing?

I'm saving up Ahsoka to binge all at once. If it's like the above... it's like the man said. You can get further with a kind word and a red lightsaber than you can with a kind word alone

Huge Star Trek fan. I am about to start Picard S02. I'm scared now...

Medium fan of Star Wars. I liked Obi Wan, but really only Ewan McGregor's acting. I could watch him read an Encyclopedia. I will admit it was a little stilted at times. Little Leia stole my heart.

Looking forward to binging Ahsoka. I don't do weekly episodes.

Did you like The Mandalorian?
S01 5 stars, S02 3 1/2 stars. S03 41/2 stars.
IMHO

Oh, and Andor... I am so confused by. I watched Rogue One when it came out however long ago... and I know this is a prequel but wtf? I'm lost. It could be my attention span sucks...

 

[GlennJenko]

Andor... I am so confused by. I watched Rogue One when it came out however long ago... and I know this is a prequel but wtf? I'm lost. It could be my attention span sucks...

Andor at its core is a story about how someone becomes radicalised and chooses to become a rebel.

There are certain things the series doesn't say out loud for a while and certain things become more apparent as the series goes on, and it is definitely all leading to something at the end.

 

[CyranoJ]

Huge Star Trek fan. I am about to start Picard S02. I'm scared now...

It's alright. I wouldn't rank it particularly high among the NuTrek shows, but it's hardly the abomination some of the fandom claims it to be.

 

[tenyari]

I have issues with Ashoka.

I'm NOT a huge Star Wars fan so maybe that's it. But I did really love Clone Wars. To me that was the best of Star Wars - and Anakin and Ashoka turn into amazingly well written and well acted characters in that. Despite how bad Anakin was in the moves, in Clone Wars he's a great character, and Ashoka is even better.

But this show has just seemed really weird. I don't feel for any of these random characters. The dialog seems very stilted. Sometimes there are weird pauses between lines that make it feel like low-budget video game dialog where the voice actors never meet each other and just read lines on a page without being told the context. Worse is that their faces often look this way too - or are overdone.

I have no idea who Bane's sidekick is. She seems to be a random afterthought - every force master needs a sidekick, lets hire some young woman who is good at brooding looks and put her in there, but then give her no backstory and no character expanding dialog so that it will hurt the actress' career because people will blame her rather than the director... It's like Phantom Menace all over again... take some young actors and put them in a bad light so they can never get hired for anything good ever again.

And Sabine... they give her a lot to do and say, but it's all 'this character comes from the CW Network of 'young adult emotional drama for no reason' shows...

Cardboard has more depth and personality than this show's version of Ashoka. I don't know if that's the actress or her lines. Well - I know it's her lines, I just don't know if the actress is being "contained" by a bad director to prevent her from fixing it.

The first 3 episodes were hard to watch, but thankfully so short I was done with them before I'd even sat down. But I almost didn't bother to come back for more despite Ashoka being one character in Star Wars lore than I liked (outside of Clone Wars era Anakin).

I also worry we'll never see what this grand thing Bane is after is. Or worse - we'll get a monologue for it in one scene near then end but no depth. So it will feel like a major plot hook that was given short shrift because having Sabine act like a 13-year old tween with emo-issues was more important.

 

[CyranoJ]

Having seen the season finale, I think for me, the first season of Ahsoka isn't a success overall. It isn't terrible, but the things I don't care for outnumber the things I enjoyed, the pacing was overall just too clunky... and I don't see how they're meant to deliver anything very satisfying in Season 2 given that the storyline has left the protagonists in two different galaxies, with the title character now pitted against a pair of sort-of-but-not-quite Sith over some incredibly obscure objective. (And they're going to have to recast Lord Balen, which is just going to be saddening.)

This show above all else really, really, really wants me to watch Rebels, is my primary takeaway, and I'm just not doing that.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Huge Star Trek fan. I am about to start Picard S02. I'm scared now...

Medium fan of Star Wars. I liked Obi Wan, but really only Ewan McGregor's acting. I could watch him read an Encyclopedia. I will admit it was a little stilted at times. Little Leia stole my heart.

I thought Obi-Wan was OK. Better than the disappointing The Book of Bobba Fett.

Looking forward to binging Ahsoka. I don't do weekly episodes.

I’m stuck after episode 3 - I guess that says something.

Did you like The Mandalorian?

Yes

S01 5 stars, S02 3 1/2 stars. S03 41/2 stars.
IMHO

Can’t agree - I loathed loathed loathed season 3. I want to hang Katee Sackhoff from a lamppost with those red eyed wolf things closing in. I don’t do the EU stuff and I really don’t care about Bo-Katan. I want Mando and Baby Yoda.

Oh, and Andor... I am so confused by. I watched Rogue One when it came out however long ago... and I know this is a prequel but wtf? I'm lost. It could be my attention span sucks...

I thought Andor was great. Dostoevsky meets Star Wars. Five stars. A favorite. And a comment.

Em

 

[lavendersilk]

I thought Obi-Wan was OK. Better than the disappointing The Book of Bobba Fett.

I’m stuck after episode 3 - I guess that says something.

Yes

Can’t agree - I loathed loathed loathed season 3. I want to hang Katee Sackhoff from a lamppost with those red eyed wolf things closing in. I don’t do the EU stuff and I really don’t care about Bo-Katan. I want Mando and Baby Yoda.

I thought Andor was great. Dostoevsky meets Star Wars. Five stars. A favorite. And a comment.

Em

I'm going to rewatch Dostoevsky meets Star Wars soon. My meds affect my enjoyment of television at the moment. I hope to get that corrected.

Oh, YES all the Padro Pascal with or without a helmet and Grogu. ...and I like Sackoff!

 

[GlennJenko]

I want to hang Katee Sackhoff from a lamppost

A very reasonable response to not liking a show and a character.

I don’t do the EU stuff and I really don’t care about Bo-Katan.

Define what you mean by "EU". I know it means Expanded Universe, but that's what what is now Legends was known as before Disney acquired Lucasfilm. Bo's previous appearances in the Clone Wars and Rebels are very much canon. Unless you mean "EU" as "anything not live-action".

But otherwise I love Bo-Katan and I'm so happy the series finally leant a lot more into the Mando lore (pun intended). In my mind she is absolutely the rightful owner of the Darksaber and should be the leader of Mandalore, especially the united polity they become at the end of season 3.

I want Mando and Baby Yoda.

Din and Grogu were very much still in play in season 3 and had very important roles to play, especially Din. Plus, we essentially had two seasons already of "Din and Grogu go on wacky adventures" with a loosely connected plot hanging in the background. I think it was time the series evolved and I'm so glad it did.

 

[GlennJenko]

Also I continued to thoroughly enjoy Ahsoka. I'm slightly disappointed by the ending, but mostly that's because I'm super invested and I just want to know what happens next.

Once more it's really sad to know Baylan's role will either be written out or recast due to Ray Stevenson's passing (RIP), especially with the tease we got at the end of the finale (iykyk).

I also love that it just unapologetically went full Star Wars in all its space fantasy glory and brought up so much lore about things from the animated shows and (I think at least) were presented in such a way that people who hadn't seen the animated shows weren't left behind, yet were satisfying to the people who had seen said shows.

 

[EmilyMiller]

A very reasonable response to not liking a show and a character.

I’m sorry you didn’t get the reference - I thought it was pretty obvious.

Define what you mean by "EU". I know it means Expanded Universe, but that's what what is now Legends was known as before Disney acquired Lucasfilm. Bo's previous appearances in the Clone Wars and Rebels are very much canon. Unless you mean "EU" as "anything not live-action".

See - this is the problem. I don’t care. I’m a fan, but not that hard core. And I don’t want to watch a bunch of cartoons just to have some clue what is happening in a show I used to like .

But otherwise I love Bo-Katan and I'm so happy the series finally leant a lot more into the Mando lore (pun intended). In my mind she is absolutely the rightful owner of the Darksaber and should be the leader of Mandalore, especially the united polity they become at the end of season 3.

Then write her own show, and I can safely ignore it. Don’t pollute someone else’s show.

Din and Grogu were very much still in play in season 3 and had very important roles to play, especially Din.

Disagree - they became supporting characters at best. Effectively marginalized. Pascal canact. Even just doing a voiceover with a double in the suit. Sackhoff, not so much.

Plus, we essentially had two seasons already of "Din and Grogu go on wacky adventures" with a loosely connected plot hanging in the background. I think it was time the series evolved and I'm so glad it did.

We’ll just agree to differ on this. Mando was the heart of the show. That heart stopped beating.

Em

 

[GlennJenko]

I’m sorry you didn’t get the reference - I thought it was pretty obvious.

Apologies, my brain is quite tired at the moment. Was it in reference to those creatures on Mandalore, or am I missing things again?

I don’t want to watch a bunch of cartoons just to have some clue what is happening in a show I used to like .

I mean, the Mandalorian itself tells you everything you need to know. Most of what is told, people who watched "a bunch of cartoons" didn't even know. But the core of what you need to know is there in the show - she used to rule Mandalore (what the animated shows set up) and then she lost it - now she wants it back.

Then write her own show, and I can safely ignore it. Don’t pollute someone else’s show.

But that wouldn't make sense, especially given where Bo is at and what she's trying to do at the end of season 2. She wants the Darksaber, Din has it. They're going to become entwined until the Darksaber issue is resolved. The Mandalorian itself was already pushing into wider Mando lore, so it makes sense that'd be continued in Din's show, especially given a significant chunk of it centred around Din's people, the Creed. Bo wouldn't have gotten anywhere without Din in that regard.

Disagree - they became supporting characters at best

As you say, agree to disagree. I never really felt like Din or Grogu were marginalised. The only time I at all felt that way was that one episode where most of it is just about Pershing on Coruscant. But then the rest of the season was back and track and it was Din and Bo really on equal footing. I can see why people would dislike that, such as you, if you dislike Bo, but I do like her so I had no issue.

We’ll just agree to differ on this. Mando was the heart of the show. That heart stopped beating.

Fair enough. As I said, though, personally Mando as the heart was still there, when it came to the Creed, on Nevarro geiving them somewhere to go, when it came to convincing Axe's lot to join them and finally dealing with Gideon and protecting Grogu on Mandalore.

But yeah, all this is to say, you do you, no hard feelings, I see your point, have a lovely day. I really just love Star Wars and love ranting about it.

 

[CyranoJ]

I didn't love Bo-Katan taking the focus from Din-Jarin in the third season of his show. I'm not nearly as mad about it as @EmilyMiller apparently is, but I mean, come on. You have title characters for a reason. If they wanted to do a Bo-Katan show, they should've just done that as a separate thing. I can see where she's coming from. Third-season Mandalorian isn't my favorite part of that show either.

I also love that it just unapologetically went full Star Wars in all its space fantasy glory and brought up so much lore about things from the animated shows and (I think at least) were presented in such a way that people who hadn't seen the animated shows weren't left behind, yet were satisfying to the people who had seen said shows.

The people who hadn't seen the animated shows were, I'm sorry to say, indeed left behind. Which is to say, I could tell when I was supposed to be Feeling Things from Rebels in particular, and I tried to meet the show halfway on that but couldn't... really do so. Likewise with The Clone Wars. The show is leaning heavily on older animated properties that have limited but enthusiastic audiences whose excitement actually does make me want to see those shows. But I don't want to do that as homework for a show that should be able to stand on its own.

 

[EmilyMiller]

This guy - Gor Kesh or whatever.



Played by John Leguziamo - who can also act.

Em

 

[EmilyMiller]

I don’t know. What is the world coming to if you can’t make an innocent joke about an actress being hung by her feet and devoured by imaginary Star Wars critters? Snowflakes all of you. Or, given the context, hyperflakes, or midichloriflakes.

Anyway…

Ching-wah TSAO duh liou mahng

And good night .

Em

 

[CyranoJ]

What is the world coming to if you can’t make an innocent joke about an actress being hung by her feet and devoured by imaginary Star Wars critters?

I just missed that whole thing, honestly. That's very funny.

On the other hand, I am contractually obligated to mock anyone who uses the word "snowflake." I'm giving you a one-time exemption for Comedic Usage, but don't push yr luck.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I just missed that whole thing, honestly. That's very funny.

On the other hand, I am contractually obligated to mock anyone who uses the word "snowflake." I'm giving you a one-time exemption for Comedic Usage, but don't push yr luck.

It was said in service of satire, I have an opinion from General Counsel at Miller (Emily) Inc [NYSE:ANL] which allows me this specific use.

Em

 

[GlennJenko]

The people who hadn't seen the animated shows were, I'm sorry to say, indeed left behind. Which is to say, I could tell when I was supposed to be Feeling Things from Rebels in particular, and I tried to meet the show halfway on that but couldn't... really do so. Likewise with The Clone Wars. The show is leaning heavily on older animated properties that have limited but enthusiastic audiences whose excitement actually does make me want to see those shows. But I don't want to do that as homework for a show that should be able to stand on its own.

I've honestly seen mixed responses. My dad, who is dumb as fuck, seems have gotten along with everything, for one. Several other friends have too. That being said, if you haven't seen said shows and can't meet it halfway, as you say, then that's totally understandable too. My dad at least has a little knowledge because of two sons who have been banging on about Ahsoka in particular for years.

I also get not wanting to do homework to enjoy a show, but as one of said fans who is off the charts excited, I'm of course going to recommend them. I don't even think you need to watch all of Clone Wars and Rebels, just certain episodes or arcs. If you do ever feel like actually watching the animated shows, drop me a line; I'll be happy to give some recommendations on what to watch.

You have title characters for a reason.

Also, yeah, to be fair. While I personally have no issue, Mando season 3 was kind of "The MandalorianS" rather than being solely about Din and his relationship with Grogu.

I don’t know. What is the world coming to if you can’t make an innocent joke about an actress being hung by her feet and devoured by imaginary Star Wars critters? Snowflakes all of you. Or, given the context, hyperflakes, or midichloriflakes.

I wil have you know I am a self-professed midichloriflake.

 

[CyranoJ]

It was said in service of satire, I have an opinion from General Counsel at Miller (Emily) Inc [NYSE:ANL] which allows me this specific use.

Oh, well played, madam. I salute you.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Oh, well played, madam. I salute you.

As I mention in the last quarterly, I have a great legal team.

Em