Ahsoka: Season 1 gets Scrubbed

****I will leave things vague and as spoilerless as possible. I encourage you watch the show, not listen to opinions.******

****I have not watched the last episode as it has not aired yet. I will edit after I form my reaction.******* 

The Ahsoka series has been a hot topic for many fans and fan forums since before its release as the journey follows not only Anakin's Jedi Padawan, Ahsoka Tano, but most of the cast from Rebels. I would be lying if I were to say that Ahsoka in live action would be what brought me to the show. After all, it's her name as the title, but her ultimate goal gave me goosebumps to the possibilities that lay before her. After all, she wants to find Thrawn, one of the most feared villains in Star Wars canon, and rightfully so.

Here is where we can geek out as the location of Thrawn leads to the location of Ezra and condition of life. Ezra has become my personal favorite of the Jedi characters since Anakin went Vader in a burst of glory; Obi-Wan totes pwned his ass. Now we also get to see live action versions of our favorite Ghost Crew members! Except Zeb, who is conveniently training troops for the New Replublic, lame excuse but acceptable cover up. Zeb looked great in Book of Boba Fett for all 30 seconds of screen time. Anyway, the series and its actors hit the nail on the head with their portrayals and costumes that were true to the last season of Rebels. 

Right off the bat, the light saber action of this show offers pure eye joy and new variants of glow stick combat. Ahsoka goes Looney Toons on some HK Assassin clankers and the Dark Jedis Baylan and Shin brutally free a surviving Night Sister Morgan in a tribute by force via A New Hope. Even Shin vs Sabine offered the sheer inexperience of Sabine as a…padawan to Ahsoka?

Sabine is no stranger to light saber style combat as she had been trained to use the Dark Saber by the late Kanan 'Caleb Dume' Jarrus; Jedi Knight. Perhaps this became the reason Ahsoka decides to take her on and hone her skills? Perhaps Ahsoka was just lonely but too proud to admit it? They have yet to explain that (I have the last episode to watch) other than "it's just a thing now". Sure, that's why she got Qui Gon-ed by Shin after offering a FN-2187 quality duel, as Sabine should have fought like a Mandalorian, and she would have won, in my opinion. Or at least escaped. Still less controversial than the random surviving Inquisitor Marrok. 

The mystery of Marrok created such wonderful theories within the fandom and we all waited to find out which one reigned true. Would this masked relic be none other than Ezra Bridger? Absolutely not as he is chilling on the beaches of some tropical planet sipping mimosas with Thrawn in their exile. Are they finally bringing the infamous Star Killer into action? This theory had me the most convinced but the truth became more shocking than that. Darth Jar Jar had finally been revealed…or not. After all the gossip, Marrok was just a zombie of an unknown Inquisitor and controlled by Night Sister magic. We know this because Ahsoka slices right through his chest and a green mist unleashes into the air. Generally accepted reaction to Night Sister magics. We do, however, get treated to a new on screen concept for live action productions not long after the disappointment of Marrok.

The World Between Worlds makes its live action debut in one of the wildest rides of the series. In a short, but decisive victory for Baylan Skoll, Ahsoka gets punted off a cliff and into an alternate dimension. Here we find the keeper of the balance, Anakin Skywalker, formerly Darth Vader and alive. The World Between Worlds made its first appearance when Ezra opened the portal from a Jedi Temple. From here he was able to save Ahsoka from being struck down by Darth Vader. For the second time, Ahsoka finds herself on the magic platforms, facing off with her Master and eventual Vader. From here, we get a last lesson from master to padawan. 

After a few moments of laser sword action, Anakin gains the high ground and drops Ahsoka into a nergasmic scene straight out of the Clone Wars. The nostalgic overload hits when we see Ahsoka being trained as a weapon as a preteen. Now, I had already figured out the horror and implications of such training during the animated series. But, to see an age accurate actress in live action battle sequences, you still get an aw factor over the entire idea, and why the Jedi Order probably needed a cleansing. The good Captain Rex makes an appearance briefly before the fight finale plays out in glorious fashion. Guess what, Ahsoka defeats her master but not before he phases between Vader and Anakin in an impressive show of power. If you don't believe me, watch the show. Anyway, Ahsoka gets to wake up in the water as the love spawn of Kanan and Hera offers his budding force powers by hearing the battle between Master and Apprentice. 

After the horrible failure of Ahsoka and Sabine (she survived the stabbing), Baylan, Morgan, and Shin take Sabine (as prisoner now) to a galaxy far far away, but right next door. I mean, they had to get there at some point because the trailers at least offered us Thrawn. Ahsoka, on the other hand, has to Dory her way into a giant space whale's mouth, with some help of the force, and travel away to that distant land…in a purrgil's mouth…with the overly proper Jedi training robot Huyang (he's been around for normal droid type things). I mean, it's a total Jedi way of solving her transportation problems but I felt the cheese in this action. And Hera has her own problems forming from helping Ahsoka against Senator desires.

Senator Xiono has become the Dolores Umbridge of the Star Wars universe as he's expertly played, but you hate his face every time he's on screen. He becomes the bureaucratic villain, although he may not be a part of the Empire Simps scattered throughout the New Republic, he has been a giant annoyance of Hera, General and Phoenix Leader. If anyone deserves a court martial, it's her droid Chopper, as he must answer for one of the most impressive on screen body count. Grievous would be proud. Without spoiling too much, a particular Princess sends her droid to save Hera in a cherished cameo and hopeful prediction to a character to come in the last episode. We will see, but lastly, we must talk about Ezra.

Thrawn's onscreen presence hasn't been impressive unless you have watch Rebels and, if you are into that whole reading thing, the novels based on his early career. Everyone in the know is just waiting for him to show his diabolical side as right now, he is just biding his time until he can escape his current situation. After all, being surrounded by a unit of zombie troopers held together by Night Sister necromancy tape and wishful thinking, I would want to claim my prize and a shower as well.  But, in a bid to buy more time, Thrawn sends Sabine out to look for Ezra. After all, she has traveled a long way and he can send the Dark Jedi out to end them both once Baylan sees fit to do so. This is a typical Thrawn thing. Send out small distractions to learn his enemy, or to fulfill his duty. Either way, we finally get to Ezra, and he manages to steal the show.

Sabine finds Ezra hanging out with rock turtle crab dudes and living a simple and peaceful life. He clearly holds dominance over Thrawn's troops if he is, in fact, wearing a shirt made completely of Stormtrooper dog tags. I feel this is a totally Ezra thing to do as he used to collect helmets from the battle fields he liked. Sabine and Ezra are finally back together again, telling stories to meet the "caught up" quota and obligatory ambush ensues. In one of the most Ezra things to do, he opts to let Sabine keep his former light saber. There are many theories as to why and if it was not for the following fight sequence, I would have hated his decision.

Ezra and Sabine take care of a squad of zombie troopers with Shin Hati complicating things with her lightsaber antics. The troopers fall, as they clearly have before, and Shin goes for the full on win against an unarmed Ezra except, the Force really has become his ally. He deflects what he can and stops Shin's attack that surely would have halved him on the spot. The impressive part is how his force use caused the blade's energy to ripple back towards Shin in an unseen and epic way. I want to tell you more but you HAVE to watch it to feel the battle as a fan. It really is that good. Just like the Dark Jedi Baylan Skoll.

Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati have not been discussed much as I am awaiting the final episode to air so I can fully understand their character arcs. What we know is Shin has a choice to stay on her current path or join Ahsoka for redemption and proper training. That knife edge will be dealt with in the finale I am sure but the biggest question to be answered lies in Baylan Skoll's quest to find what has been in his head. Something calls to him and the theories from Legends and Canon are about as abundant as the truth behind Marrok. I will remain silent until after the last episode gets released but the late Ray Stevenson will be missed in the acting world and Bayaln's next actor has some massive shoes to fill. May Titus Pullo rest in peace.

I have gone over the basics in the most unspoiling way possible for those who have not watched the show but wish to know a little bit more about it before diving in. With the last episode ready to stream tomorrow, when I feel like watching it, I am optimistically excited about what happens next. The pace and story of this show screams nostalgia, mixed with samurai movies, and topped with good character development over the course of the journey. I will give a full response, edited in after a good watch, and my full feelings about this brilliant telling of a former Padawan, turned Master of the Force beyond the halls of Jedi Temples and rules. Stay tuned, Scrub out for now.