This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the work being covered here wouldn’t exist.
At the conclusion of Ahsoka‘s premiere episode, Sabine Wren had been mortally wounded by Baylan Skoll‘s apprentice, Shin Hati. Shin also took the map Ahsoka had found that might’ve led them to Grand Admiral Thrawn and Ezra.
Speaking of Ahsoka, she and Sabine had some sort of massive falling out during their post-Return of the Jedi search for Ezra. It also appears that Ahsoka was attempting to train Sabine to be a Jedi despite her never showing an aptitude for wielding the Force. The Ahsoka/Sabine dynamic will likely be explored and explained over the course of the series. Right now, though, Ahsoka must enlist Herra Syndulla‘s help retrieving the map before Morgan Elsbeth can use it to track down her former master.
As always, the recap portion of this review will contain plenty of spoilers along with some brief explorations of Star Wars lore. The order of events has also been streamlined a bit for the sake of clarity.
Broken
Ahsoka (Disney+)
The episode opens with Sabine waking up in a hospital with Ahsoka and Huyang watching over her. After explaining how she lost the map (and the accompanying data), a clearly frustrated Ahsoka leaves the room and heads to Sabine’s home. While investigating what happened, she’s attacked by an HK assassin droid that’d been hiding in the ceiling.
Ahsoka easily takes it out and brings the droid’s head back to Sabine, who she hopes can recover its memory core. Despite the core overheating, Sabine grabs enough information to learn that the assassin droid came from a New Republic shipyard on the planet Corellia. When Ahsoka notes that Morgan Elsbeth used to have factories on there, Herra (appearing via hologram) counters that they should’ve all been shut down after the Empire fell.
Ahsoka and Herra decide to head that way and see if they can dig anything up. After she insists Sabine stay behind, Herra offers her teammate some encouraging words. She also insists that Ahsoka still needs Sabine’s help even if she doesn’t outwardly show it.
Ahsoka (Disney+)
Meanwhile, Baylan and Shin travel to the planet Seatos and place the map in the middle of a very jagged-looking Stonehenge. When the map reacts, Baylon tells Shin to contact Morgan and tell her that they found “the reflex point.”
*Side Note: For folks who keep asking why Shin always looks so dour, I say it’s because she has one of those bosses who asks you to call people they could do more easily themselves.
When Morgan arrives on Seatos, she explains that the structure was built by “ancient people from a distant galaxy.” She then uses some Nightsister magic to open the map, which shows a pathway to a place called Peridea where Thrawn is allegedly living in exile. Baylan claims that Peridea was simply a fairytale told amongst Jedi younglings, but Morgan insists that it’s real. Baylan remains skeptical, but assures Morgan that Marrok will complete a mission he’s on before the “Eye of Sion” has arrived.
*Side Note: We’ll get to what Morgan is actually referring to in a bit. For right now, it’s worth pointing out that Darth Sion was a legitimately terrifying and ancient Sith Lord who was missing one of his eyes. The character is currently part of Legends continuity (i.e. he doesn’t technically/officially “count”), but that may very well change.
After Morgan departs, Shin asks what happens if/when they find Thrawn. Baylan explains that the grand admiral’s return will bring war to some and a new beginning for others. As for him and Shin, it will result in them obtaining incredible power. Baylan then instructs Shin to go to Correlia to make sure Marrok doesn’t screw anything up.
Regional Betrayal
Ahsoka (Disney+)
Ahsoka and Herra meet at the New Republic shipyard on Correllia, where they’re met by a supervisor named Myn Weaver.
*Side Note: Yes, that’s Peter Jacobson playing a remix of the character you hated on ‘House.’
Weaver isn’t cooperative about letting them look around, but acquiesces after Herra suggests she make their visit/inspection more official. As they tour the facility, Weaver explains that there are still ex-Imperials employed there. Thankfully, their loyalty belongs to whoever can provide them with a steady paycheck.
During a lull in the conversation, Herra takes the opportunity to stand up for Sabine before asking Ahsoka to consider taking her back as an apprentice. Ahsoka replies that Sabine isn’t ready.
Ahsoka (Disney+)
When they reach the control room, Herra notices a hyperdrive from a super star destroyer being prepped for delivery/installation for something bigger than any project the New Republic has in the works. Despite being a General, Weaver claims all information about the ship (and the 8 others like it that are currently being constructed) is classified. When Ahsoka asks if they have any HK droids in operation, Weaver insists they don’t.
He’s quickly contradicted on the latter by a nearby protocol droid, who claims to have been stopped from loading equipment by an HK droid with a high level of security clearance. The protocol droid then points out that the HK droid is currently aboard a ship departing with the hyperdrive.
Herra orders the control room workers to stop the ship, but they refuse before revealing themselves as Imperial loyalists. After easily taking them out, Ahsoka jumps down onto the landing dock to pursue the ship while Herra runs back to give pursuit in the Phantom II.
Ahsoka (Disney+)
Before Ahsoka can reach the hyperdrive, she’s confronted by Marrok and an HK droid. She takes out the droid and nearly puts down the former inquisitor, but Shin shows up just in time to save him. Marrok looks like he’s about to do that stupid inquisitor helicopter thing, but thankfully pulls off a much cooler-looking escape move, instead.
Meanwhile, the Phantom II begins taking fire from the transport ship, which causes Chopper to begin yelling at Herra (which is one of the greatest things ever). Fortunately, Herra is an incredible pilot. She dodges the transport ship’s cannon fire long enough for Chopper to get a tracking device on it before the vessel can jump into hyperspace.
Once everyone’s back on the ground, Chopper starts attempting to lock in on the tracking device. Meanwhile, Ahsoka and Herra watch Weaver and the other Imperial loyalists get taken into custody by the New Republic.
Ahsoka (Disney+)
Back at the hospital on Lothal, a recovering Sabine attempts to brush off Huyang’s suggestions that she continue her Jedi training with Ezra’s old lightsaber. After Sabine states that Ahsoka quit on her, Huyang simply counters that she’s making excuses not to try. When Sabine points out that she never had the talent or abilities that Ezra did, the coldly logical droid agrees. He even goes as far as declaring that after teaching countless Jedi younglings for many centuries, Sabine’s abilities would fall short of them all.
*Side Note: This sounds really mean (and kind of is), but it also helps address a very important question/issue a lot of ‘Star Wars: Rebels’ fans had about whether or not Sabine is Force-sensitive.
When Sabine responds by saying she won’t waste any more of Ahsoka’s time, Huyang replies the only time she’s wasting is her own before offering her the lightsaber.
Old Look, New Beginnings
Ahsoka (Disney+)
After Sabine returns home, she digs out her old Mandalorian armor and cuts her hair (officially signaling that she’s on her way back to the badass character we saw for four seasons in Star Wars Rebels). She then hails Ahsoka on her ship and declares herself ready to resume their training.
Before Ahsoka arrives back on Lothal, Sabine visits the mural she painted of the Spectres. Shortly after the T-6 shuttle lands (and Ahsoka compliments Sabine on her new/old look), Huyang announces that Chopper and Herra have gotten a location on where the hyperdrive went (Seatos). As they depart, Ahsoka refers to Sabine as her padawan.
Meanwhile, the hyperdrive shows up at what appears to be a colossal hyperdrive docking ring, which we learn is the Eye of Sion. With the final hyperdrive in the process of being installed, Morgan tells Baylan & Co. that they must now take out Ahsoka Tano to prevent her from interfering. Baylan expresses reluctance at the thought of killing a Jedi when so few remain galaxy, but appears to accept the mission.
The Verdict
Ahsoka (Disney+)
For a review like this, it’s hard to take out the fan service moments when they’re executed so brilliantly. From Chopper and Herra’s scene together (which was even better than I’d hoped) to the Nightsister voices when the map was being opened, longtime fans of the Star Wars animated shows had a lot to enjoy.
Also, old timers and new folks alike can agree that the HK/Marrok vs. Ahsoka fight was great.
I still hold to my concerns about how impenetrable the background lore of Ahsoka is for new folks, but this episode finally started to make the characters and their respective stories feel like they weren’t bogged down by it. That could easily change if/when Thrawn and Ezra show up, but it appears to be working for now.
That’s thanks in no small part to Natasha Liu Bordizzo, who continues to shine as Sabine Wren. Combine that with outstanding performances from the rest of the cast and it’s hard not to enjoy the world they’re creating on screen. It should also be noted that Huyang is a wonderful paradox of bluntness and empathy.
“Toil and Trouble” still had its issues — like how much of the plot relied on perfect timing and/or Baylan sending Shin on a mission armed with advanced script notes. But by the time we get to that final scene of Sabine in her old armor, it feels like we’re watching something that hits all the right nostalgia notes while simultaneously forging its own path.
Let’s hope that trend continues next week now that the Spectres appear to be getting back together.
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