Ahsoka

[Moliphino]

One was featured in an early episode of Star Trek: Discovery.

I believe you also see them in Ant-Man when he's shrinking to the quantum realm.

 

[PolymerSkywalker]

Ok I am caught up to the show, here is my episode 5 review:

Pros:
- Still really good it think
- Still the best Star Wars since Mando 2
- Good fight between Ahsoka and Baylan, very well done.
- It was great to see The Chosen one again in his glory
- Super cool scene where he morphed into Vader for a split second
- The fight was well done between Ahsoka and Anakin and I like that Ahsoka actually had a tough fight where she was a little overmatched at times
- great seeing Ahsoka not be the best lightsaber wielder in the world yet, as she can have a proper character arc.
- I am thrilled Lucasfilm appears to be learning from their mistakes in the ST and not giving any of these characters the cheat codes.
- nice to see real training occurring

Cons:
- a little slow in this episode with not much happening (filler episode)
- how on earth do they know the space whale will take them to the correct place……seems awful convenient
- got more issues with the demographics of anyone in a leadership position, but that won’t get anywhere with this group. It just looks very formulaic to me, and not organic in any way. I am trying to keep this from being distracting from the good in the show.
- A little disappointed with the dream / WbW scene….as it is vague and still left unclear as to what that actually was. My guess is a flashback while knocked unconscious, but the boy hearing the light sabers seems to suggest something more. Intriguing for sure.

Overall still really good show thus far.

 

[BrianL]

Ok I am caught up to the show, here is my episode 4 review:

Pros:
- Still really good it think
- Still the best Star Wars since Mando 2
- Good fight between Ahsoka and Baylan, very well done.
- It was great to see The Chosen one again in his glory
- Super cool scene where he morphed into Vader for a split second
- The fight was well done between Ahsoka and Anakin and I like that Ahsoka actually had a tough fight where she was a little overmatched at times
- great seeing Ahsoka not be the best lightsaber wielder in the world yet, as she can have a proper character arc.
- I am thrilled Lucasfilm appears to be learning from their mistakes in the ST and not giving any of these characters the cheat codes.
- nice to see real training occurring

Cons:
- a little slow in this episode with not much happening (filler episode)
- how on earth do they know the space whale will take them to the correct place……seems awful convenient
- got more issues with the demographics of anyone in a leadership position, but that won’t get anywhere with this group. It just looks very formulaic to me, and not organic in any way. I am trying to keep this from being distracting from the good in the show.
- A little disappointed with the dream / WbW scene….as it is vague and still left unclear as to what that actually was. My guess is a flashback while knocked unconscious, but the boy hearing the light sabers seems to suggest something more. Intriguing for sure.

Overall still really good show thus far.

Ahsoka IS one of the best lightsaber weilders at this time though - she is significantly older now and was well trained by the best of the best, which of course includes Anakin. Anakin though is still on the next level. I am not sure why her lightsaber skills should contribute to her character arc though - she really does not have anytihng to learn there. Her arc is about learning how to reconcile with Sabine and become a proper teacher. I do think it is Anakin's Force Ghost though, connected through the World Between Worlds somehow - or it was just The Force Itself. It does seem to have his memories though. Regardless of what happened, it was still cool!

The map is specifically based on the migration pattern of the Purrgil. The map leads to where they go, which is where they took Ezra. Yes, it might not go there I suppose, but it very likely will and has made the trip many times. The ginat, ancient one really gave me Avatar vibes.

 

[PolymerSkywalker]

Good point about how to be a teacher part of the story. I thought that was a cool element that was well done.

In general I just think a real traditional character arc has been present, and I have seen the two protagonist Ahsoka and Sabine both have some ups and downs already. That shows me Disney is learning and listening to constructive criticism.

One of the single biggest complaints I have seen hundreds of times about the ST is Rey has very little character arc and everything came way too easy with no struggle. I am thankful, that Disney is learning from those mistakes.

 

[BrianL]

Good point about how to be a teacher part of the story I thought that was a cool element that was well done.

In general I just think a real traditional character arc has been present, and I have seen the two protagonist Ahsoka and Sabine both have some ups and downs already. That shows me Disney is learning and listening to constructive criticism.

One of the single biggest complaints I have seen hundreds of times about the ST is Rey has very little character arc and everything came way to easy with no struggle. I am thankful, that Disney is learning from mistakes.

You know, we've been over it, but Rey did struggle, just not with fighting. Learning fighting isn't the only why to give a character an arc. Rey's struggle was with who whe was and her place in the universe - her identity. Now, one could argue how well they executed that, but it's there. Ahsoka certianly doesn't need to learn fighting either, which is why I though it odd that you would conflate that with ehr heroe's journey.

 

[PolymerSkywalker]

Ahsoka is obviously not quite as good as her mentor Anakin. He is literally toying with her some.

Rey was better than Luke at everything with only a little self taught training and some genetics help from her Palpatine heritage. Wins a saber fight with a force user the first day she even learned the force existed. This is not a unique take on Rey, you don’t like the opinion……but that doesn’t make it any less common. Literally thousands of pages of print discussing this exact point.

 

[PolymerSkywalker]

Wondering who you parents are is not a character arc that works for a proper hero’s journey, sorry it’s just not.

 

[BrianL]

Ahsoka is obviously not quite as good as her mentor Anakin. He is literally toying with her some.

Rey was better than Luke at everything with only a little self taught training and some genetics help from her Palpatine heritage. Wins a saber fight with a force user the first day she even learned the force existed. This is not a unique take on Rey, you don’t like the opinion……but that doesn’t make it any less common. Literally thousands of pages of print discussing this exact point.

Again, you are obsessed with her beating people IN COMBAT, as if that's the only thing that matters or the only way to grow. Can't it just be that Rey was already an excellent fighter having grown up in a harsh envirnent where she had to fight to survive? She knew how to fight just as Luke knew how to fly an X-Wing better than anyone, even though he'd never seen one. You have a very myopic view on this issue to the point that you are happy or releived that Ahsoka can't outfight Anakin? What is she could - it's not entirely out of the range of possibility. She was trained by Anakin, Obi-Wan, Plo Koon, Mace WIndu, and Yoda. She was a padawan with a key in to the big dogs! She is actually probably the best in the galaxy - excluding dead people - at the time that the show takes place.

 

[BrianL]

Wondering who you parents are is not a character arc that works for a proper hero’s journey, sorry it’s just not.

No, her struggle was in the journey. She felt lost and obsessed with her parents coming back. She went through the mirror-cave thing, struggled with how to help ben - did she want to join Kylo Ren? She was legitimately tempted. She was faced with what that dark future may look like. I'll go ahead and admit that it wasn't the most elegant sotry arc, but it WAS a story arc.

 

[PolymerSkywalker]

https://wegotthiscovered.com/movies/the-10-most-hated-characters-in-star-wars/

A story arc is correct, but really bad one and in no way compares to a proper hero’s journey like Luke’s. They should have had her struggle for real, not just emotionally. Real struggle is relatable, emotional worries are normal. Once again and we have been through this……my assessment is not unique.

 

[BrianL]

https://wegotthiscovered.com/movies/the-10-most-hated-characters-in-star-wars/

A story arc is correct, but really bad one and in no way compares to a proper hero’s journey like Luke’s. They should have had her struggle for real, just not emotionally. Real struggle is relatable. Once again and we have been through this……my assessment is not unique.

Okay, I can accept that you think it was poorly done - that's a matter of opinion. Not all heroe's joureny's are the same though - there is no one right and proper way to tell the story. Admittedly, the best struggles in fiction ARE relatable, but how can you be so sure that people don't relate to Rey's story. Just be cause YOU don't doesn't make it illegitimate.

 

[PolymerSkywalker]

Okay, I can accept that you think it was poorly done - that's a matter of opinion. Not all heroe's joureny's are the same though - there is no one right and proper way to tell the story. Admittedly, the best struggles in fiction ARE relatable, but how can you be so sure that people don't relate to Rey's story. Just be cause YOU don't doesn't make it illegitimate.

That’s fair and I agree there is no proper way. However, there is a way that has been done repeatedly that leads to beloved characters like Rocky, Luke Skywalker, Eleven in stranger things, and even Cinderella . Then there’s the Rey way which leads to her name being on just about every single “most disliked” Star Wars character list you can find.

This is a foolish discussion, as I am not going to convince you…..you are dug in on this one. Your opinion is not changing and neither is mine. History will prove who was right. If the ST endures time and and still watched 30 years from now like the OT is. I guess you were right. I highly doubt that takes place though!

OT merch still outsells ST stuff like 5 to 1. Make identical quality size and packaged Luke and Rey figures and see which sells first?

 

[BrianL]

That’s fair and I agree there is no proper way. However, there is a way that has been done repeatedly that leads to beloved characters like Rocky, Luke Skywalker, Eleven in stranger things, and even Cinderella . Then there’s the Rey way which leads to her name being on just about every single “most disliked” Star Wars character list you can find.

This is a foolish discussion, as I am not going to convince you…..you are dug in on this one. Your opinion is not changing and neither is mine. History will prove who was right. If the ST endures time and and still watched 30 years from now like the OT is. I guess you were right. I highly doubt that takes place though!

OT merch still outsells ST stuff like 5 to 1.

What you fail to realize, or admit, is that there are lots of people who love Rey as much as Cinderalla, or Rocky, or, *GASP*, Luke Skywalker. Just because YOU don't conenct with her doesn't mean that other's don't. Not every story will cater to you specifically, and that's okay, and doesn't make it inherently flawed.

Let me ask you, what if Ahsoka had deftly defeated Anakin? Given all that we've seen with her, it's possible. It wouldn't be out of line for her character. Would you just be screaming that she has no character arc because she's too good at lightsaber combat?

 

[PolymerSkywalker]

While I will say I do think it might be a little questionable, based on her mentor in his prime having slightly better skills. However, she was painstakingly trained by one of the best who was also the chosen one, so no, I think it could have worked for the story. I do think it was very wise by Dave to let Ahsoka take a few lumps in that episode from both Baylan and Anakin, because it will make her triumph in the end sweet and (a proper hero’s journey).

What can’t work for me is a scavenger with zero formal combat training or even knowledge of the force beating down a powerful and highly trained force user. Even wounded Kylo should have beaten Rey to a bloody pulp. Them retroactively making her a Palpatine was an attempt at explaining why she was so over-powered to cheat code level…..but even that fell flat in my opinion. She is just a very poorly written character. Not Daisy Ridley’s fault, but she just had a terrible script that she could not overcome.

 

[Skywalker3]

1 more minute. Refreshing Disney + like we do MDE at 7am trying to get a virtual queue at WDW!

 

[PolymerSkywalker]

Ok, what a great freaking episode!

The best one yet.

 

[BrianL]

W
O
W
!

 

[PolymerSkywalker]

World building in this episode is just incredible.

Also the big bad has colossal potential, this has been what Disney Star Wars has been so sorely missing. A real bonafide big bad!

 

[Skywalker3]

Another great episode. This series keeps surprising me by not doing what I expect, and I certainly didn't expect the appearance of a certain someone just like that, after all this time! shed a tear. so, so, so good.
Much more to ponder and talk about, will need another watch. Many great reveals and great character and world building.
Points off for me for silly, annoying creatures...everything else was wonderful! (I don't like most creatures like that in SW.)

 

[PolymerSkywalker]

I thought they were fine, and SW has always done odd creatures. Literally could have been in the OT cantina scene and not looked of place at all.