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Ahsoka Season One Finale Recap: 8 / 10 : Ahsoka episode 8 acts more as a setup for future stories than a conclusion to its current one. As expected, it may leave viewers (especially those not familiar with Rebels and Clone Wars) scratching their heads. But with the 40-ish-minute runtime, it is successful in other areas. Let’s dive in.
Warning: Spoilers ahead.
The Warlord and The Witch
We begin with one of the series stand-outs, Grand Admiral Thrawn, with his sights set on departure. “Bring the Eye of Sion out of high orbit”, he tells Captain Enoch. Enoch informs him they have eyes on the Jedi shuttle’s location, for which Thrawn orders two TIE fighters to action.
Morgan Elsbeth then receives a reward for hearing the Great Mother’s voices across the galaxy. As Elsbeth pledges her loyalty, the Nightsisters gift her the Blade of Talzin.
The Jedi
Nearby, Ahsoka, Sabine, and Ezra prepare for battle while traveling with the Noti (the turtles). Ezra constructs his new lightsaber with Huyang over his shoulder lecturing him about the craft. We also learn that Huyang taught Ezra’s master Kanan Jarrus aka Caleb. Sabine joins Ahsoka outside the slow-moving ship, she apologizes for following Baylan to pursue Ezra, which ultimately leads to Thrawn.
Ahsoka, however, isn’t mad; “I’ve made my share of difficult choices… often nobody understood my reasons… except my master”, Ahsoka says. “No matter what happens next, I’m going to be there”, she assures Sabine. The dynamic between Ahsoka and Sabine has been one of the side-plots throughout, the two haven’t really had time for moments with everything else at stake, but this felt important and much needed.
As Ezra joins them, the TIE fighters close in, damaging the ship. Ahsoka and Ezra are able to hold it from crashing on top of the Noti, while Sabine launches the aircraft with a burst of power, flying and destroying the TIE fighters. The victory is short-lived because the ship is now disabled. “Sorry to state the obvious, but this is going to slow us down a bit”, Ezra says. “Only if we let it”, Ahsoka states.
Enoch reports the news to Thrawn. As usual, Thrawn is coldly stoic and claims it’s “an acceptable outcome” and orders an immediate ground assault. Though the chances of Ahsoka interrupting their departure are still low, Thrawn won’t leave it to chance.
Ahsoka, Sabine, and Ezra ride off on howlers nearing the Chimaera, “may the Force be with you”, Huyang says as he spots them venturing off. Morgan and the Night Troopers prepare for Ahsoka and co. to arrive. They navigate through a hellfire attack, using the force to dodge oncoming blasts, and successfully enter the base. Thrawn shows the best (and only) display of displeasure, he orders the Night Troopers.
Victory Is Mine.
Ahsoka, Sabine, and Ezra fight them off. From here, it’s just one big action sequence. The Nightsisters resurrect the fallen troopers into zombies, who give chase. They still aren’t a match for them, but at least it buys Thrawn more time. Unfortunately for Morgan, he needs more of it. She understands what he’s asking of her – “For the Empire”, Thrawn says. Morgan stays behind, she and Ahsoka face-off, lightsabers vs. Blade of Talzin. Ahsoka orders Sabine and Ezra to stop Thrawn.
Sabine and Ezra approach the outer edge but the ship is moving. Ezra thinks it’s too late but Sabine believes it’s possible; Ezra will jump and she’ll help him using the force. He makes the massive leap and barely makes it, holding onto the ledge, jumping above, and taking out the guarding troopers. With that, the series’s initial goal is achieved. Ezra is safe and set to finally go home, but Sabine doesn’t follow. She stays behind to help Ahsoka who’s surrounded by Morgan and the zombies. Ahsoka makes one last attempt, with her apprentice now fighting alongside her. Ahsoka kills Morgan, but the damage is done, Thrawn is further out now.
Just then, Huyang flies in on the repaired ship and picks them up. You think they have a chance until – a transmission comes in from Thrawn himself. “Allow me to commend you on your efforts today. You’ve been quite a worthy opponent. I regret we haven’t met face-to-face, and perhaps now we never shall. Still, I know you, because I knew your master. I concluded your strategies would be similar. One wonders just how similar you might become. Perhaps this is where a ronin such as you belongs.” He ends with “Today, victory is mine, long live the Empire”, and jumps into the stars, leaving Ahsoka and Sabine stranded.
Now the finale slows, leaving more questions than answers. Ahsoka and Sabine stay with the Noti, Ahsoka spots a white owl, who flies off (a Morai). Shin makes her only appearance above a cliff of nomads, it seems she’ll lead her own army.
Baylan idles on top of a mountain, and we see two statues behind him. Two Mortis Gods represent balance and darkness in the force, but it seems one statue is missing. Unfortunately, it’s the only answer we get as to what Baylan was seeking all along and the final time we’ll see him amid the passing of actor Ray Stevenson. He gave a compelling performance and was a stand-out in every scene.
As a lone ship boards Home One, Ezra reunites with Hera. Back with the Noti, Ahsoka, and Sabine gaze into the night. “Thrawn got away,” Sabine flatly says, but Ahsoka responds “But thanks to you, Ezra got home… Ezra is where he needs to be and so are we”. Sabine senses something in the distance, perhaps she sees something but shrugs it off. Ahsoka senses it too, she smiles and continues on. We slowly pan back…
Ahsoka Season One Finale Recap
revealing a force ghost, Anakin’s. He watches his old apprentice, and smiles, as always, he’s watching over her. Then we cut to black on season one of Ahsoka.
The Verdict.
Ahsoka starts off with lots to unpack and perhaps ends with even more. But it proves to be one of the strongest Star Wars entries on Disney Plus with something to offer its fans of both new and old.
Finale Rating: 8/10
