I live blogged the first two episodes of Ahsoka. Under the cut because length and also spoilers.

I legit screamed at the crawling text. Vintage iconic Star Wars, the only thing missing was the theme. But I also exclaimed “oh no! Not a secret map” and groaned “don’t they ever have any new ideas?” Because really? That MacGuffin had zero logic in a Force Awakens and again?

But then the first shot is of a ship and it is like a love affair for the movies. I am here for that. It’s a large Republic ship which is like their version of a Star Destroyer I guess? Cool parallel.

The way Baylan stormed through the ship and the accompanying music track, I could just feel that Dave Feloni I guess? Or whomever directed it had such love for Star Wars.

Ahsoka in that room with the orbs. I got real Uncharted puzzle room vibes. It was like “I have played that game” haha. Those exploding robots made for a really big blast. Ahsoka still having the call sign Fulcrum is both cool and strange, given that Fulcrum applied to a lot of people on purpose (e.g Kallus used it) to add a layer of deception. I wonder if Ahsoka is the only one that uses it now.

I am crying about this map. Why why why? It makes no sense. Say it is a map of the unknown regions, say it shows the location of the Chiss homeworld but if Thrawn is lost there is no map, and certainly not one in a secret vault underneath what looked like a ruined temple. How can there be a map to someone that didn’t know they were going anywhere, and had no control over the destination because purgills! Thrawn didn’t leave a map. Just like Luke wouldn’t have left puzzle pieces to a map when he decided to go be sad. I hate it here. Why do they think this is good writing? It is not! Ahem. I am upset.

But I am screaming because Hera!!!!!! And she mentioned Ezra. And they thought Thrawn was dead? But they saw the purgills? What about Ezra’s message that he couldn’t wait to come home?

Ok ok I am back to screaming because it’s Lothal!! It looks so good. I can recognise it. I am all starry eyed over it and it’s Governor Azadi and boy he looks like him A+ casting and he gives credit to Ezra and my heart is full. It’s what Ezra deserves. I didn’t realise that painting was official. I always thought it was something Sabine painted. Maybe she still did? The way the droid spun its head to say no was hilarious. I liked the expansion of the spectre callsign. It feels like maybe Sabine helped train those guys?

It sucks that Azadi tried to make her do the public spectacle thing when she didn’t want to, but I guess he was always a politician. He didn’t come across as a pure ‘good guy’ in the Thrawn book with how he tried to pressure Pryce for her mine. Politicians 🤷‍♂️.

Sabine has a pet loth-cat! OMG and after she drew them in her art so much. Oh man and that holo of Ezra. So many of the trailer scenes already! I love how they put Sabine’s art all over the walls of the old comm tower, that was Ezra’s home and is now hers I guess. I sniggered seeing the graffiti on the bunk in Ahsoka’s ship. Sabine graciously donates her art everywhere haha. Loth-cats, TIE’s and Chopper, just little doodles very nice.

Ok /sighing forever. I am still clinging to denial. How can they make Sabine force sensitive? Kanan trained her with the dark saber! It was specifically mentioned that she didn’t have the force! Kanan would have known!!!!

I did have to rewind and play the line twice about it ‘hard being a Jedi’ and “I would have made a good one” because the first time I legit thought I heard “I should have married a good one then” and I was like WHAT?!?! I mean I was getting like a bad break-up exes vibe but there was no way they would do that. Funny for the 5 seconds my eyes popped out of my head though.

I do find it sad that the Ghost family has gone their separate ways. That is only natural of course but I wish there had been direct contact between Hera and Sabine. They can do their own thing but I want them to still feel like family.

I remain unhappy with Rosario’s acting choices with Ahsoka is I am honest. She doesn’t emote enough. It’s like “serene wisdom” was a memo she got and she applies it to everything. Pretty sure I said that after her Mandalorian appearance. There’s none of the heart or humour that Ahsoka still had as an adult in Rebels. Yes she had grown and there wasn’t the sass of the Clone Wars but she still had a personality and an intensity. Rosario just looks bored most of the time.

I am not loving that faced with a battle Sanine grabs Ezra’s lightsaber rather than her Mandalorian blasters. Why not at least both? I guess there wasn’t time but it felt like a conscious choice to grab the saber. Sabine should still be allowed to be Sabine!

She got a saber through the chest!!!!!

OMG OMG. Did not see that coming. I mean a bacta tank should hopefully fix it but yikes. Good job I guess they dropped two episodes because holy cliffhanger Batman. Although I mean logically she has to be fine, we have seen her in the trailer with the short hair. Can I just say that if she’s been wearing I don’t know her ARMOR then that wouldn’t have happened. Mando battled Moff Gideon’s dark saber with a beskar spear so it makes sabers bounce a bit. Cut through eventually yeah but not like a hot knife and butter.

Right episode two!

It really doesn’t speak well to Ahsoka to basically do a passive aggressive “you have done enough” aka “this is your fault you should have stayed on the ship like I told you”. I mean that’s not entirely untrue and frustration is natural, but again I think it’s because she doesn’t emote. It comes across as a petty point score rather than an honest feeling. The Ahsoka I know and love from the animation just isn’t like that.

It is kinda cool that Ahsoka can sense echoes like Cal Kestis. Shame they don’t glow blue like in the game haha.

With the loth-cat it is a puppet like Grogu I think? And I can see his expression in the loth-cat. I guess it’s how they are constructed? It’s a bit funny though.

Finally! Hera and Sabine talk. I am on the fence about Hera’s actress. Sabine’s thought is good, I am getting a Sabine vibe (writing/story choices aside 🙄). Still getting a bad breakup exes vibe which is amusing me. Also the whole “haven’t seen her in years” is making me wish they would clarify how far past the rebellion this is. I don’t think they have? Or if they did it was a blink and miss it. I always thought the end Rebels scene was pretty much right after Endor. This feels like it’s been several years after that.

I am a bit confused about this whole two galaxies thing? I suppose that would definitely qualify as the unknown regions 🤷‍♂️ “Power like you have never dreamed” is a motivation I guess but I had read that these weren’t supposed to be Sith (hence orange blades, not red) so it doesn’t feel like it quite fits.

Screaming!!!! The Phantom 2!!!! *gasps* Chopper!!!! I did see somebody joking about why has Hera not upgraded the Separatist shuttle after all these years. I guess with the Rebellion it was very much ‘make do and mend’ and if it still flies then why bother.

Hera’s surprise at ex-Imperials working everywhere seems strange given her position as General (shouldn’t she know that?) and questioning their loyalty just doesn’t feel like a Hera question. The guy is practical in what he said about how the average citizen doesn’t care who is in charge, they just do their job. I just finished reading A New Dawn and Hera had similar views. Not everyone had the right mindset to be a Rebel and that was ok. I mean with how massive the Empire was, and how they made everyone they could serve it, people had to eat/take care of their families. Hera would understand that. It just doesn’t feel right that she would tar everyone with the disloyal brush. I mean ok that was the case, they were imperial remnants but it was a clumsy hint.

I have never really liked Jedi calling them apprentices rather than padawans as that was always a term I associated with the Sith. I do like that I felt Hera had mom vibes when she was talking to Ahsoka about Sabine. Sticking up for her kid, I approve of that. I really can’t shake the bad breakup exes vibe. It is amusing me greatly.

Rosario runs really slowly. I do not get Jedi physical enhancement at all. I don’t wish to be mean about her because I don’t want to be mean to anyone. I mean she has been cast as Ahsoka, this is who we are watching. It is annoying the feeling that she’s not doing the best job. But that’s mostly because I have an image of Ahsoka I guess and what I am seeing doesn’t match it.

I love that Hera is flying. When things are at their worst, she is at her best. The best damn pilot in the galaxy, I love that for her. I am laughing about Chopper looking through his junk drawer and just tossing stuff. The way Chopper emotes I just love it. The best droid. So much personality.

Sabine meditating and cutting her hair gave me chills in the trailer. That’s what Kanan did right before he died. That better not be foreshadowing!!

With the library I have a request in for the first Alphabet Squadron book. I think that was Hera on a mission at the shipyards? I wonder if this ties in somehow.

I know we saw it in the trailer but I do still love the redo of the Rebels scene with Ahsoka coming for Sabine at the painting. What I am not loving is that I can’t see blasters. Sabine where are your blasters? This is bugging me! If they do want to go the Jedi route why could she not keep them? Kanan carried a blaster. Ezra carried a blaster. It’s not like Jedi don’t, ugh!

Ok I have seen both episodes now. I am confused and frustrated. This whole map business… I hate it I really do. I am decidedly not thrilled at best about Sabine being a Jedi, and Ahsoka doesn’t vibe right. But oh man seeing Lothal, and the Phantom 2, and the whole shots of those Rebels scenes made live, and Azadi, the painting, Chopper!!! Hera-ish, still on the fence with how she vibes. Sabine is good. I’m not massively in love with this show but there is enough good here that I am counting down to next week.

Aaaaand I am still snickering about Sabine and Ahsoka being exes 😂 ok new headcanon for the laughs. They hooked up and they sparred because they are warriors. People saw and assumed Ahsoka was training Sabine and they must be master and apprentice, because Jedi don’t hook up. Kanan obviously did and so Hera guesses the truth which is why she was pushing so hard for them to make up. I know, I know, it mostly doesn’t pass or if it does there are power dynamics I personally wouldn’t ship unless they are joking. Ahsoka can do deadpan humour.

I can’t believe we made it two episodes and still no Ghost. I feel teased.