Ahsoka Episodes 1 & 2 Review: Very Much Live Action Rebels

Ahsoka might be the title character, but this series feels more like a live action Rebels season 5. So do you need to have watched Rebels to understand it?

Ahsoka is the most Star Wars feel fans have seen in a while thanks to perfectly combined humor, action, emotion, and high stake storyline. While it is sure to impress Star Wars fans, those that have skipped the animated series, in particular Star Wars Rebels, might find themselves a little lost. The first two episodes of Ahsoka do their best to catch everyone up to date, and to explain what went down in Rebels, but there is no real way to deliver the emotion and heart that this team went through in four seasons.

Note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Ahsoka would not exist without the labor of the writers and actors in both unions.

This series follows Ahsoka on a journey that seems to very much pick up where Rebels ended. Ezra Bridger sacrificed himself in order to take out Grand Admiral Thrawn at the end of the animated series, but their deaths were never confirmed. Now, Ahsoka and friends are determined to find him, and stop a potential war in the process. 

Do You Need To Have Watched Star Wars Rebels To Understand Ahsoka?

Ahsoka might be the title character but this series feels like a live action Rebels season 5. So do you need to have seen Star Wars Rebels in order to enjoy Ahsoka? No. They do a decent amount of exposition so they can catch new viewers up.

However, those that have not watched Star Wars Rebels will not fully appreciate the emotional beats and understand why the journey they are going on is so important. At the very least, check out this everything you need to know about Star Wars Rebels article so you can understand the depth of emotion that occurs in the Ahsoka series.

Feels Like Star Wars Again

The Ahsoka series feels like Star Wars again. This comment isn’t meant to shame anything that has come out in the last few years, as they are all special in their own way, but Ahsoka is Star Wars. Not only does it start off with a crawl, it is the perfect combination of everything that Star Wars is.

There are epic action sequences such as chases and lightsaber battles. The comedic timing is perfect, and not just from the sassy droids. There is a whole lot of heart and an emotional journey, as well as a high stakes storyline, that are sure to have every viewer invested.

Those who we attest to being the villains at the moment feel dark and sinister, but also have that little bit of grey area to them as many Star Wars bad guys do. As with every good villain, they have their reasons for doing what they are doing — and of course, they think they are in the right.

We don’t know too much about Ray Stevenson’s Baylan Skoll (RIP) and Ivanna Sakhno’s Shin Hati yet, but one thing is for sure, when they are on screen you cannot look away. There is something truly captivating about them. It’s intriguing and exciting, and we cannot wait to learn more about their stories. 

Overall Thoughts On Ahsoka

Even though Ahsoka feels like a live action season 5 of Star Wars Rebels, there is enough here for even casual Star Wars fans to fall in love with. It isn’t necessary to have watched the series, although of course it will cause you to understand all of these characters and their relationship on a deeper level.

The only real issue with this series so far is that it is a little slow as it gets bogged down with exposition, but that being said, the exposition is there to help those who missed Rebels catch up on certain events. It is necessary for them, so it is hard to fault the creators and writers for that.

Dave Filoni being involved with Ahsoka is part of why it works so well. He knows these characters in and out and that really shows. Each and every one of the live action actors perfectly captures their animated counterparts — right down to their mannerisms and the way they stand. 

Sure, everything could fall apart at some point in the final six episodes of the series, but for now Ahsoka is as close to perfect as Star Wars fans can imagine. This feels like the Star Wars we all fell in love with from the epic lightsaber battles, to the political undertones, to the lighthearted humor that weaves through the intense storyline. 

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

NEXT: 7 Star Wars Celebration Major Reveals | 2023 Day One

About Ahsoka

Former Jedi knight Ahsoka Tano investigates an emerging threat to a vulnerable galaxy.

Ahsoka premieres on Disney+ with two episodes on August 22nd at 6pm PT / 9pm ET, with new episodes releasing every Tuesday night, through October 3rd.