All this time, all this waiting… and we’re finally here. The finale of Ahsoka is the culmination of everything we fell in love with from Rebels over nine years ago. Does episode 8 deliver the emotional conclusion that we so richly deserve?
Beyond these eight episodes, however, lies the potential for so much more than what we’ve already seen. Ahsoka has laid the groundwork for several new paths into the SW universe, and only time will tell where they’ll lead.
Of lightsabers and Padawans
With Ezra becoming a “wild Jedi” and learning to use the Force as his weapon last episode, I was perfectly satisfied with his lightsaber being officially passed on to Sabine. I certainly didn’t expect Ezra to forge a new lightsaber altogether – and especially not one that resembles Kanan’s!
Sabine and Ezra having a bonding moment over Kanan’s memory was wonderfully sweet, and the explicit mentions of their shared dad’s name and history fit the scene beautifully.
Also, the reflections on Kanan and Ezra’s master-apprentice relationship transitioned to Ahsoka and Sabine’s dynamic very nicely. These two had been in need of an honest heart-to-heart since episode 4. Ahsoka’s memories of how Anakin always stood by her and her vow to stay by Sabine helped reforge their fractured relationship.
We also finally found out why Ahsoka left Sabine between Rebels and Ahsoka: after the Purge of Mandalore, she feared Sabine wanted to become a Jedi for darker reasons. That makes sense, but I wish we’d heard this explanation significantly earlier. Then it would’ve been clearer why Ahsoka was taking Sabine back as a Padawan, and we could’ve seen what made Ahsoka change her mind back in episode 2.
Send in the redshirts
I should’ve realized this far earlier: like its predecessor, the Ahsoka finale is mainly an action episode. It makes sense – I understand the concept of the “final battle” – but more of our heroes’ skirmishes are emotionally empty. They’re just killing off random troopers on their way to Thrawn.
Don’t get me wrong, a touch of Nighsister zombie magic is fun, but it doesn’t play a large role. And really, what kind of threat is a bunch of corpses against three Jedi – one of whom is also Mandalorian?
But my disappointment was quickly alleviated through Sabine and Ezra. Every one of their interactions, significant or minor, delivered exactly what I’d craved from this show. Even the small stuff, like the two of them sharing Sabine’s howler on their way to Thrawn’s base, left me misty-eyed. The “What’s your excuse?” “I missed you” exchange was one of my favorites. And that’s not to mention their bond through the Force!
Early on, it was clear that we’d have Sabine becoming more attuned to the Force across the series. But oh, I certainly didn’t realize that meant we’d get Ezra and Sabine using the Force together. All of their joint actions – lifting the gate, pulling their lightsabers – felt like a tribute to Rebels in the best possible way. And that jump to Thrawn’s ship! The Force theme music was lovely, and it’s clear that Sabine and Ezra still deeply trust one another after so long.
Ahsoka vs. Elsbeth, round two
At the beginning of this episode, Morgan Elsbeth is granted some intense Dathomiric witch powers, along with the possession of Mother Talzin’s blade. I’m never going to complain about more Nightsister magic, and this ritual makes Elsbeth a tangible threat to the three Jedi on Peridea. But still, her role against Ahsoka near the episode’s end, despite her new abilities, is a match-up we’ve seen before.
Why is Ahsoka’s final boss Elsbeth? They’ve already faced one another in The Mandalorian season 2. And Ahsoka won! Sure, this time Elsbeth has her Nightsister powers helping her, but Ahsoka’s also taken a stand against Ventress in the past. This isn’t an entirely new conflict for her.
It would’ve made more sense for Ahsoka’s ultimate battle to be with Baylan. Ahsoka already tried to defeat him back in episode 4 and was defeated. Wouldn’t it be more compelling to watch her succeed against him this time around?
(Also, Baylan and Shin did absolutely nothing in this episode, making me continue to wonder what their place was in Ahsoka. They’re nothing more than mercenaries.)
At least the stakes were definitely felt in Ahsoka and Elsbeth’s duel. I became genuinely nervous when Elsbeth broke one of Ahsoka’s lightsabers. And it took a moment for the truth to sink in, but… though killed, Elsbeth completed her mission. She kept Ahsoka and Sabine from boarding Thrawn’s ship and escaping Peridea.
Ezra’s bittersweet victory
I understand, from a character perspective, why Sabine had to stay behind and help Ahsoka while Ezra was being sent to safety. Sabine couldn’t have abandoned her teacher. But… still, this left Ezra alone on this ship with Thrawn, being sent away from her AGAIN. It’s the same situation as the Rebels finale!
This isn’t a genuine complaint; the emotional impact of Sabine staying behind was certainly felt. But agh, poor Ezra.
Out of all the ways Ezra could’ve made it home, this possibility never crossed my mind. Given Sabine’s fierce determination to save him, as well as the increasing risks of finding Ezra, I always assumed they’d all make it back to Hera safely. Sabine succeeding in her mission while trapping herself in wild space is harshly ironic. I always thought she’d be by Ezra’s side when she introduced him to Jacen.
What came next in this episode, though, was the greatest insult to Rebels fans I’ve ever seen. Even worse than Kanan never telling Hera he loved her. (Well, let’s not get crazy here.)
Ezra’s final scene: he arrives, armored, to the hangar of Home One. Hera and other officers approach him, not knowing who he is. Chopper is the first one to recognize Ezra, rolling up to him quickly. Ezra touches Chopper’s dome for the first time in over a decade.
He takes off his helmet. Hera says his name, disbelieving. Ezra smiles, telling her he’s home. He starts to walk towards her.
AND THE SCENE. ENDS.
Are you… I can’t even believe this. Did that really happen? That’s their great reunion??
I swear, I’ve mentioned in every single one of my Ahsoka posts that I was anticipating this reunion the most. Hera never hugged Ezra in Rebels, so surely we’d finally get that in Ahsoka! Everyone else got to have a proper connection with him! Sabine hugged him, Ahsoka hugged him… and you’re telling me Hera doesn’t get to??
I’ve heard suspicions that Hera and Ezra’s scenes were filmed separately and spliced together, thus making it impossible for them to touch. But if that’s the case then it’s STILL a terrible mistake! This was an entirely necessary scene!
Honestly, the lack of an embrace between them put a damper on Ahsoka as a whole. This was the outcome of the entire show. This is what everyone’s actions have been working towards! This is the culmination of the emotional finale of Rebels over five years ago! And all we get is Ezra slowly strolling towards Hera? Not the two of them running to the other at the very least?
Because Ezra isn’t home yet. He’s just out of wild space. He’s not home until he’s hugged his mom. Then Sabine and Ahsoka have won.
I’m so bitter. This is unforgivable. Why would you do this to us, Filoni?
But there’s more. Even if Hera and Ezra had gotten their hug, that scene still would’ve been unfinished. Hera needed to ask about Sabine. Ezra needed to say that Thrawn is back. And Ezra definitely needed to take a single moment and acknowledge that Ahsoka and Sabine sacrificed themselves to bring him home.
Victory and defeat
Thrawn’s entire presence in this episode is fantastic. His vehemence not to underestimate a single Jedi is very in character, not to mention his message to Ahsoka near the episode’s end. The two of them have never met in canon – not yet – and I hope we’re building up to a confrontation. Ahsoka and Thrawn are two of the greatest forces the current SW galaxy has to offer.
While I liked Thrawn’s taunt about how Ahsoka might turn out like Anakin, it felt out of place. The same message was delivered in episode 5, but Ahsoka’s never given any hints of slipping to the dark side. Even in her own show, she’s stayed true to herself. Maybe we’ll see more of her inner conflict in season 2.
As I mentioned in the section above, I loved the unexpectedness of Ahsoka and Sabine becoming trapped on Peridea as a result of saving Ezra. If it took them so long to bring him back, how will the two of them make it home? They’re stuck with Baylan and Shin now, too. And Morai made a brief but interesting appearance. What does it mean, especially if the owl isn’t constantly around Ahsoka anymore?
In return for not getting a proper Hera-Ezra reunion, we’re rewarded with one last Anakin cameo at the very end of this episode. While seeing him as a Force Ghost watching over Ahsoka was lovely, it made me nervous that we’ll never get any more interactions between these two. Episode 5 was good, but it didn’t feel like enough.
What comes next?
Well – we’ve made it. The mission led by Sabine in the Rebels finale has finally succeeded. Ezra’s been saved (although he didn’t get enough hugs). So where do we go from here?
Obviously, a second season must be upcoming. Ahsoka and Sabine need to escape, Ezra needs to meet Jacen, and – the most ominous threat – Thrawn needs to be defeated.
We’ve been promised a fourth season of The Mandalorian. Like Ahsoka, the show is considered part of the “Mando-verse.” Perhaps season 4 will consist of Din and other Mandalorians recognizing the approaching danger of Thrawn, including some Rebels cameos. Zeb comes to mind, since he first appeared in live-action in The Mandalorian, and I’d just love for Din and Hera to meet.
But I don’t think this would be enough to justify jumping immediately into a Mando-verse movie. There are still too many Rebels-centric moments that can’t be properly addressed in a movie focusing on a variety of different Mando-verse characters.
Part of me desperately hopes that Ahsoka season 2 will open with Ezra and Hera’s reunion hug, but I don’t know if we’d be so lucky. But a second season would need more than just Hera-Ezra interactions. Ezra still has to learn that Jacen exists. Zeb and Ezra need to reunite. Ahsoka needs to keep training Sabine and find a way for them to escape Peridea. And Jacen asked Hera about being a Jedi in episode 3 – who will train him? Ezra? Sabine? Both?
We have to hope for season 2. It would be a mess for so many Ahsoka plot points to get addressed in a non-Rebels-focused movie or show. Unless The Mandalorian season 4 pulls a TBOBF and has half of its episodes centered around Ahsoka…
All that can be said for sure is that this isn’t the end of anyone’s story yet. That’s the curse of watching SW shows as soon as they come out. Once you’ve reached the end, you can only eagerly await what’s coming next.
Here are my live episode notes for the last time.
