As a Clone Wars and Rebels fan, I did enjoy seeing the animated figures brought to life.
The outdoor scenes which are obviously shot in the Volume virtual stage feel confined, and the movement stagey, hitting their marks, rather than fluid. The Volume works best as a dynamic background for a fixed stage, such as a ship interior or the Star Map on Seatos.
I can't help comparing Ahsoka to Andor. Andor was brilliantly written with a stellar cast highlighted by Stellan Skarsgard, Genevieve O'Reilly, Andy Serkis, and Fiona Shaw. Andor is a gritty political drama which feels Star Wars adjacent, with its deconstruction of Fascism, but not like Star Wars per se.
Ahsoka is the opposite of Andor, with rather lackluster writing, staging, and direction. The acting is competent, good in the cases of Rosario Dawson as Ahsoka, Ariana Greenblatt as young Ahsoka, Diana Lee Inosanto as Morgan, and the late, lamented, Ray Stevenson as Baylan.
There were no Shakespearean soliloquies in Ahsoka as in Andor. Dave Filoni isn't a great writer. He knows the voice of his characters, but he says, "and then Ahsoka says this" and then he writes just that.
David Tennant embodies the soul and memory of the old Jedi Order. Tennant adds a touch of gentle humor and realism with his voice work as Ahsoka's ancient Jedi droid companion, Huyang.
What I love about Ahsoka is the world building and general Samurai/High Fantasy "Star Warsiness" of it all. The plot, sets and pacing owe much to Kurosawa's films such as Throne of Blood (and thus, to Macbeth). The virtual sets of Peridea call back to Middle Earth, as does Ahsoka's post-World Between Worlds costume and demeanor change to what fans have termed as "Ahsoka the White." We are getting a full Hero's Journey for Ahsoka, featuring a journey through the underworld via inside a space whale.
Filoni is still getting his legs as a live action writer and director. I feel like he is still operating in animation mode, with storyboards, key frames, and previz. That's a disciplined way of doing filmmaking and helps to control costs, but like the Obi Wan Kenobi show, Ahsoka feels confined by budget, time, not enough episodes, and Disney's lack of any coherent direction for the Star Wars IP.
The most pleasant surprise of Ahsoka for me was a de-aged Hayden Christiansen reprising the role of Anakin Skywalker (and pre-"I have the high ground" Darth Vader). This could have been merely shameless fanservice, but Christiansen's performance, and his unrelenting physicality and characteristic lightsaber flourishes, made his appearance during Ahsoka's epic journey through immersion into the underworld, a gift and a redemption showing Christiansen's range and what this actor can do with a decent script and direction.
Ahsoka season 1 is a snack, less filling than Andor, but still delicious. A popcorn meal.
Ahsoka Season 1 is good
Here are my general thoughts about Ahsoka.
As a Clone Wars and Rebels fan, I did enjoy seeing the animated figures brought to life.
The outdoor scenes which are obviously shot in the Volume virtual stage feel confined, and the movement stagey, hitting their marks, rather than fluid. The Volume works best as a dynamic background for a fixed stage, such as a ship interior or the Star Map on Seatos.
I can't help comparing Ahsoka to Andor. Andor was brilliantly written with a stellar cast highlighted by Stellan Skarsgard, Genevieve O'Reilly, Andy Serkis, and Fiona Shaw. Andor is a gritty political drama which feels Star Wars adjacent, with its deconstruction of Fascism, but not like Star Wars per se.
Ahsoka is the opposite of Andor, with rather lackluster writing, staging, and direction. The acting is competent, good in the cases of Rosario Dawson as Ahsoka, Ariana Greenblatt as young Ahsoka, Diana Lee Inosanto as Morgan, and the late, lamented, Ray Stevenson as Baylan.
There were no Shakespearean soliloquies in Ahsoka as in Andor. Dave Filoni isn't a great writer. He knows the voice of his characters, but he says, "and then Ahsoka says this" and then he writes just that.
David Tennant embodies the soul and memory of the old Jedi Order. Tennant adds a touch of gentle humor and realism with his voice work as Ahsoka's ancient Jedi droid companion, Huyang.
What I love about Ahsoka is the world building and general Samurai/High Fantasy "Star Warsiness" of it all. The plot, sets and pacing owe much to Kurosawa's films such as Throne of Blood (and thus, to Macbeth). The virtual sets of Peridea call back to Middle Earth, as does Ahsoka's post-World Between Worlds costume and demeanor change to what fans have termed as "Ahsoka the White." We are getting a full Hero's Journey for Ahsoka, featuring a journey through the underworld via inside a space whale.
Filoni is still getting his legs as a live action writer and director. I feel like he is still operating in animation mode, with storyboards, key frames, and previz. That's a disciplined way of doing filmmaking and helps to control costs, but like the Obi Wan Kenobi show, Ahsoka feels confined by budget, time, not enough episodes, and Disney's lack of any coherent direction for the Star Wars IP.
The most pleasant surprise of Ahsoka for me was a de-aged Hayden Christiansen reprising the role of Anakin Skywalker (and pre-"I have the high ground" Darth Vader). This could have been merely shameless fanservice, but Christiansen's performance, and his unrelenting physicality and characteristic lightsaber flourishes, made his appearance during Ahsoka's epic journey through immersion into the underworld, a gift and a redemption showing Christiansen's range and what this actor can do with a decent script and direction.
Ahsoka season 1 is a snack, less filling than Andor, but still delicious. A popcorn meal.
3 of 4 stars