The most recent episode of the Ahsoka Disney Plus sequence felt prefer it was shifting all of the essential chess items across the board. And for good motive—the subsequent episode is its final, so showrunner Dave Filoni had to verify Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson), Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo), and the newly rediscovered Ezra Bridger (Eman Esfandi) have been all in the identical place, so they might tackle Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen).
The results of all these items shifting round is a strong, although principally unremarkable episode.
Learn Extra: Ahsoka Episode 6 Evaluate: The Threads Of Future
It could have been titled “Goals and Insanity,” however there’s nothing mad right here—simply your typical Star Wars fare: a cameo, a group of lightsaber fights, humorous little creatures throwing rocks at unhealthy guys, and Thrawn enjoying 4D chess. Let’s get into Ahsoka episode six.
Trials and tribulations
The episode begins with one thing of a chilly open: Hera is getting dressed down by Senator Hamato Xiono, who’s offended that she ignored direct orders and introduced her fleet to Seatos to assist Ahsoka. Right here is the one actual nod to the episode’s title, as Xiono suggests Hera’s story of Jedi, false Jedi, and star whales, “reads like a baby’s fairy story.” Fortunately they’ve put Mary Elizabeth Winstead in an outfit that doesn’t appear to be it’s from Spirit Halloween, with a lot softer colours and tones, so I can watch Hera cop an perspective with out wincing an excessive amount of at how overly saturated she is from head to toe.
Xiono loudly denounces every thing Hera says, and suggests she “abuses her authority for private acquire” and needs to be court-martialed. In case you didn’t hate Xiono earlier than this, you actually do now. However fortunately, we’ve obtained a cameo sweeping in to avoid wasting her on the final second: C3P0, right here on behalf of Senator Leia Organa. We’re, gratefully, spared any kind of digital resurrection of Carrie Fisher, as 3P0 acts as Leia’s mouthpiece, saying that she had personally okayed Hera’s mission to Seatos. Xiono calls C3P0 a “mere droid,” which riles Chopper up (bear in mind, Chopper *will* kill you).
3P0’s presence settles all this drama, and Xiono has to tuck his tail between his legs and drop his accusations. Mon Mothma pulls Hera apart and tells her she is aware of this was all a ruse, which provides us yet one more little second to understand how good Winstead is on this position, and the way she manages to shine beneath a lot make-up, prosthetics, and uncanny contacts. Hera assures her that, regardless of undoubtedly possibly not getting approval from Leia earlier than going to Seatos, the mission was essential—all of their worst fears might come true if Thrawn returns. Nonetheless, Hera’s last line is a stark reminder that Filoni struggles to put in writing dialogue, as “put together for the worst, and hope for one of the best” falls flat.
With the chilly open carried out, we decide again up with the purrgil, who’re nonetheless on their migratory journey with Ahsoka and Huyang in tow. Ahsoka is operating lightsaber drills, and we’re blessed with one other take a look at Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker—she’s watching considered one of his coaching holograms as she practices. “As your Grasp, it’s my accountability to organize you, so observe these types typically…or at the very least greater than I do,” he says, with a smirk. We’ve not often gotten an opportunity to see this facet of Anakin in reside motion, and Christensen performs it so very nicely. As an Anakin apologist, I used to be delighted to see him once more, and when Ahsoka bows her earlier than his hologram and he does so in return, it seems like a well-earned second cameo, not only a typical Star Wars reveal shoe-horned into an episode.
When Anakin’s hologram glints away, Ahsoka tells Huyang that he made twenty of those coaching recordings for her, and that was his final one. Huyang is considerably shocked by his thoughtfulness, appearing as a conduit for these Star Wars followers who didn’t watch The Clone Wars, and by no means noticed the depth of Anakin’s character.
Huyang lets Ahsoka know that the purrgil have slowed down, which leads him to consider they’re reaching their vacation spot. The 2 enter the cockpit and focus on how they’ll discover Sabine, with Ahsoka assuring Huyang that if she finds the enemy—who Sabine got here with—she’ll discover her apprentice. Huyang is skeptical, noting that the percentages of that taking place are “horrible, astronomically horrible.” Ahsoka jokes with him, asking why he didn’t inform her sooner, with a sly grin on her face—Dawson has brilliantly shifted how she performs the character, imbuing her with a lightness that’s harking back to her youthful self. It’s pretty to see, and a testomony to her expertise as an actor that she will make this shift with out it feeling compelled.
However earlier than we are able to get extra Ahsoka razzing Huyang content material, we uncover that the poor purrgil have flown instantly into an enormous minefield surrounding the planet Thrawn and firm are on. We get a enjoyable little area motion sequence right here, with Ahsoka winding via the mines to keep away from getting taken out. They descend into the creepy particles area (it’s purrgil bones, bear in mind), and hunker down to cover.
Thrawn, ever the analyst, has now realized that Ahsoka’s grasp was Anakin Skywalker, a person with whom he labored intently throughout a Clone Wars mission (followers of the Thrawn: Alliance novel, which brings the 2 collectively, have been actually happy at this nod). You possibly can inform he’s able to leverage this towards her, and perceive why he decides to name off the ships chasing her to see what she does subsequent.
However Filoni’s dialogue issues are evident on this second, as Thrawn says in a single breath that Ahsoka can be unpredictable like her grasp, and within the different that he’ll let her go down her personal path in order that they will keep one step forward of her. Woman, what? How is she unpredictable however in a position to be predicted by you? Thrawn’s good, however not that good.
Sabine and Ezra
In case you didn’t watch The Clone Wars, you may not know that Sabine and Ezra have traditionally acted like bratty siblings with one another. Once we see the 2 of them driving in a caravan with all the lovable little crab guys from the final episode, chatting and verbally jabbing at one another, it might very nicely be a scene pulled straight from the animated sequence. Bordizzo and Esfandi have easy chemistry collectively, and their banter feels actual and well-established. Sabine and Ezra grew up collectively, in any case, and you may simply fall again into your outdated dynamic with somebody you grew up with even for those who haven’t seen them in a decade.
However Sabine gained’t give Ezra all the small print on what’s happening, as a result of she is aware of he’s going to get pissed at her. So as a substitute, she goes again over every thing he’s missed, implying that the 2 spent the time between episodes catching him up. “The Emperor died?” he asks. “That’s what individuals say,” Sabine says, a nod to the very unlucky “in some way Palpatine returned” bit from The Rise of Skywalker.
As Sabine and Ezra chat, Ahsoka reaches out to her from her ship orbiting the planet. Huyang is skeptical that their bond is robust sufficient, however Ahsoka proves him fallacious as soon as once more, and we get a short scene that echoes those between Rey and Kylo Ren in The Final Jedi—Sabine can see Ahsoka, Ahsoka can see Sabine, and now she is aware of simply the place to search out her apprentice. However on the similar time, the Nightsisters have, at Thrawn’s request, additionally found the placement of Ahsoka, and due to this fact Ezra and Sabine. And bear in mind, Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati are in search of the newly reunited besties as nicely, so Ahsoka is actually funneling each main character to the very same level.
Baylan and Shin’s relationship is shocking, nonetheless, and a reminder that these two are neither Jedi nor Sith, however one thing far much less concrete. Whereas, traditionally, Sith masters and their apprentices have betrayed and/or killed one another in a ceaseless quest for extra energy (Rely Dooku and Asajj Ventress, Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine, Kylo Ren and Snoke), Baylan merely releases Shin from her apprenticeship, suggesting that she go tackle Ezra and Sabine solo whereas he forges forward on his personal, nonetheless unclear quest. The look on her face is considered one of utter confusion—what has she been following this man for? Baylan doesn’t even need a “place within the coming Empire,” he desires one thing fully completely different, and Shin is clearly at a loss. However he leaves her with one parting lesson: “Impatience for victory will assure defeat.” And as soon as once more, the late Ray Stevenson shines in his position, including layers of that means to a person who so typically speaks in motivational posters. What’s he cooking up there? We’ll actually discover out, although not on this episode.
Shin and the planet’s bandits go after Sabine and Ezra, who actually circle the wagons of their armored caravan (designed to appear to be the shells the Noti put on on their backs) to guard themselves. Star Wars is an area western, bear in mind, and Dave Filoni desires to make sure you don’t ever overlook that. This whole scene feels so completely and fully true to the franchise, with hazard and demise punctuated by humorous little quips from Ezra and bodily comedy from the Noti, who chuck rocks at their attackers whereas emitting humorous little squeaks. Even the shortage of stakes is inherently old-school Star Wars—it by no means actually looks as if anybody is at risk, even when Shin descends on a weaponless Ezra and Sabine, however then once more, did you ever actually really feel like Luke, Han, and Leia have been gonna die within the trash compactor?
The gang’s all right here
The battle between Ezra, Sabine, and Shin is strong, particularly when Ezra initially refuses to seize a weapon and simply makes use of the Pressure to push enemies away, and cease an incoming lightsaber swing. However “Goals and Insanity” is one thing of a ceaseless swap between quips and motion, and by the point it reaches the midway level I’m nearly bored with it.
Even Ahsoka preventing Baylan, which takes place as she’s en path to Sabine, feels prefer it’s thrown in there simply to get some extra laser swords within the combine. They don’t battle for lengthy, nor do they ever actually seem to be they’re going to kill one another, and Ahsoka makes use of the coverfire from her ship to flee on the again of his Howler in a cloud of smoke. Baylan, bemused, merely turns away from her and forges onward, vacation spot unknown.
Again with the Noti caravan, Shin is closing in on Sabine and Ezra, the latter of whom remains to be quipping away like he spent his time in exile watching holovids of Han Solo standup. After all, they aren’t going to die, as Ashoka slides in on the Howler to avoid wasting the day.
As they battle, Thrawn watches over his digital battlefield, and proves as soon as once more that he’s probably the most galaxy-brained individual within the, nicely, galaxy. He doesn’t perceive why Baylan is absent from the battle, however he’s okay with these losses within the face of that absence, and considers this primary standoff towards Ahsoka Tano a win for the baddies. “Ahsoka Tano has misplaced the one factor she couldn’t afford to lose right this moment. Time.” Thrawn notes that every one of this preventing has given him sufficient time to load the ship with all his treasured cargo, and decides to withdraw his troops in order that they will escape.
Poor Shin Hati. Within the span of thirty minutes, the little feral factor is deserted not as soon as, however twice. All of Thrawn’s troops retreat, leaving her confused and alone. “Give up your weapon. I will help you,” Ahsoka says, as Shin appears to be like at her with the identical look my youngest cat had after I first discovered him residing in an deserted constructing. She’s obtained nowhere to go, however is so clearly confused a couple of Jedi providing peace, contemplating all that she’s heard of them. So, trying like she’s about to burst into tears, she activates her heel and sprints away. Ahsoka stops Sabine from pursuing her (the shippers get a crumb extra fodder), and the three have a correct reunion.
The stilted dialogue returns but once more (“Ahsoka, I assumed you have been useless.” “And miss this reunion?” gave me hives), however I can attempt to overlook it when the appearing is on level, and it’s right here. As soon as once more, Dawson performs Ahsoka with a perpetual wry smile, and her real snort after she hugs Ezra is a delight. Because the three smile at one another, Huyang sweeps in with Ahsoka’s ship, and the Noti emerge from their armored caravans to adorably coo and gesticulate.
“Guys, I’m getting a sense. I feel I is perhaps going dwelling in any case,” Ezra says because the music swells. I wouldn’t be so positive about that, dude.
Subsequent week, we’ll see if Ahsoka and firm can catch Thrawn earlier than he jets again to their galaxy. The ultimate episode of Ahsoka season one airs October 3 at 9 p.m. EST on Disney Plus.