Fix: Female Leads In Sci-Fi, Complex Teacher-Student Relationships, Endearing Droids, Fragile Peace
Platforms: Disney+
(Caution: This article contains spoilers for Star Wars: Rebels).
Disney Plus Summary:
Former Jedi Knight Ahsoka Tano investigates an emerging threat to a vulnerable galaxy.
FYA Summary:
In the final episode of the animated series Star Wars: Rebels, Jedi Padawan Ezra Bridger trapped himself with Imperial General Thrawn in a distant galaxy. This turned the tide of the Rebellion, allowing the New Republic to form. Ten years later, Ahsoka finds a star map that could lead her to Ezra, but to decipher it, she needs the help of Sabine Wren, her former apprentice and Ezra’s former crewmate. Since Ahsoka’s own master fell to the Dark Side, she doubts her ability to teach, while Sabine grieves for Ezra and resents Ahsoka’s dismissal. Can they mend their relationship in time to find their friend? Should they even try it, with the risk of bringing the General back too and starting another war?
Familiar Faces:
Rosario Dawson as Ahsoka Tano
Dawson reprises her role as an older Ahsoka from The Mandalorian: still emotionally closed off (and no wonder), but slowly maturing into a Force user as wise and compassionate as her Jedi predecessors.
Natasha Liu Bordizzo as Sabine Wren
As the least Force-sensitive padawan in known history who prefers projectiles to lightsabers, Sabine is a challenging (and sometimes frustrating) counterpart to the more traditional heroes of the franchise.
Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker
Ahsoka’s literal and/or metaphorical battles with Anakin’s ghost are some of the most powerful scenes in this series, as Christensen’s performance is chilling and heartbreaking by turns.
David Tennant as Huyang
Ahsoka’s co-pilot, a salvaged Jedi training droid, combines the wise advice of Yoda with the wry humor and fond exasperation of Obi-Wan in dealing with his young companions.
Lars Mikkelsen as Thrawn
This icy military genius makes Darth Vader seem approachable. As soon as he shows up, you know the stakes are about to get drastically higher.
Couch-Sharing Capability: Fellow Fans
I watched this show with my mom, who’s been a fan since the original trilogy came out, and who took me to see The Phantom Menace when I was nine. Anyone who’s not already familiar with the franchise, though, might get a little lost.
Recommended Beverage: Mixed Cocktail/Mocktail
If you had as many mixed feelings about this show as I did, you’ll want a lot of sugar, fruit, and/or alcohol to process them — not to mention stay awake through the many, many lightsaber battles.
Use of Your Streaming Subscription: Rebels First
Mom and I made the mistake of watching this series without having seen Rebels first. We could still follow the plot, but were pretty confused by Ezra’s intergalactic vanishing act, and not nearly as invested in his bond with Sabine as the story expected us to be. After binge-watching Rebels in two weeks, seeing what Ezra is capable of and how much he means to his comrades, it all makes a lot more sense … except that now, we have a whole new set of questions about those missing ten years. Would a few flashbacks to Ahsoka and Sabine’s past training and falling-out be too much to ask for? If there’s a second season, maybe then we’ll get to see it. Until then, I guess there’s always fanfiction.
