Part Six: Far, Far Away

I never watched the animated shows. Clone Wars or Rebels. So I have no attachment to any of the characters. The biggest complaint most people have brought up is not knowing any of the characters or plot lines they throw you into.

But to me, my biggest complaint is the lead character being so incredibly boring. This is of no fault to Rosario Dawson. She is doing what is on the page. But she shows no emotion, she moves and talks very slow. She is a Jedi so she seemingly has no base desires or interests other than "the greater good". And even when she is fighting she moves very slow.

I was wondering why this episode seemed so much more interesting than the previous ones and it's due to it having the least amount of Ahsoka. Sabine has her own writing problems, but at least I understand her motivations. Ray Stevenson continues to steal every scene he's in. And the actor who plays Thrawn has me excited as well.

An enjoyable episode for sure, although there's surprisingly little of the title character herself, it starts to build up its villain and gets you excited for what comes next. For the casual viewer you will start to get the sense of what the villain may be capable of and for a rebels fan, I think they've handled the transition to live action with this character much better than expected.

What i'm nervous for is how the situation will be handled from here, of course you don't want the Rebels finale completely undone with that explanation as to why Sabine did it, but you also don't want it to be a whimper of a finale. The balance will be important here.

The little action sequence with Sabine was enjoyable and those Night Troopers seem interesting. The stories Huyang is telling and Baylan was told may end up significant in some way. Let's see where we go from here!

Sabine arrives at her destination as Ahsoka follows.

I am relieved that the plot has moved from where it was lingering for the first five episodes and the introduction of certain characters is a positive.

I still find it difficult to keep interested in the story as there is a lot of exposition dialogue that I feel ambivalent about. For me we need to see something happen that does not involve reflection on the past or build up to characters we are yet to see. I appreciate I might feel different had I watched Rebels.

I think the best scenes involve the character Baylan Skoll, as you feel like it's laying the foundations of what is to come and just about keeps me wanting to find out what happens next.

Natasha Liu Bordizzo carries it well for the majority of the time and Lars Mikkelson adds a much needed presence.

Visually it continues to be beautifully designed. I love the battered Star Destroyer and the look of certain characters. As good as a certain location looks, I think it needed something significantly different to convey that we are in a different galaxy. What that would be though I have no suggestions. The art designers involved in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise are very creative, so maybe Disney should have consulted them.

Star Wars has always been more fantasy than Science fiction. Something that is almost forgotten after the sequels were made and up until now with Ahsoka.

Ahsoka series feels like a direct continuation from the prequel and original movies. (Though, It could be an advantage to have seen at least Rebels to get the finer nuisances of the story telling. Maybe Also Clone wars series).

Though I liked Andor, Rogue one and even Obi-wan Kenobi series, they did not have the fantasy aesthetics as the originals Somehow more sterile and more towards science fiction(with primarily humans) than fantasy. They were missing mystery, occult-like scenarios, magic ...and they had a serious lack fantasy steeds, creatures and beings.

They barely touched the realm of Knights, Princesses, Evil rulers, Slaves and people/creatures with strange powers and sinister fortresses.

All this was remedied by the arrival of Ahsoka.

If you liked the original movies and the prequels, then it is a must to see Ahsoka.

This episode may appear relatively laid back in comparison, but it sets up the ultimate conflict that no doubt will resonate in the last two episodes of season one.

The theme is all creatures great and small. In a hostile world where there are a few who amass power, and others who desperately predate to survive, there are still others who use guile and wisdom to endure.

A great many other strategic questions are answered, including how the Purrgils would know to jump to this galaxy and for what purpose. Turns out, one person's purgatory may well be another's reverent sanctuary.

There is also sadly, at work here, a cabal of people who deliberately write reviews designed with prejudice to denigrate. It would be nice if such people would find a life more productive.