Ahsoka – Episode 5: Shadow Warrior Review

By Ben Wright (@iamzavagno | www.xgeeks.co.uk)

This review contains spoilers.

After last week’s incredible episode, which also had one heck of a cliffhanger, the expectation and excitement levels were through the roof going into this latest episode, so I’m not going to delay things any further – let’s get straight into the review!

Hera arrives on Seatos, to discover Huyang holding Sabine’s helmet, as he looks over a cliff. I enjoyed that they brought back Huyang’s advice of staying together, as it added more weight to the sense of loss in the scene. I think this was a sombre opening but also acted as a barrier from last week’s cliffhanger. Obviously, we want to jump straight into that, but I think setting the tempo in this way was a smart choice. Not that we’d have to wait long…

Anakin is here to complete Ahsoka’s training, and while she refuses to fight, Anakin is not taking no for an answer. The pair engage in a sparring duel which, one unnecessary edit aside, was a nice little exchange. Seeing Anakin with his blue lightsaber again provided an instant injection of emotional serotonin. 

Back on Seatos, Jacen uses his abilities to hear the sounds of lightsabers clashing amongst the waves. Kevin Kiner’s score brought incredible impact to this scene and it was beautifully performed. We get a Senator Organa namedrop, which is fitting as you sense the politics of the New Republic are about to come into play once again. Speaking of namedrops, when Huyang mentioned Kana Jarrus, I raised and clenched my fist mid-air. Give that man’s name some respect! It was incredible to hear that name spoken in live-action.

We get to see Hayden’s iconic behind-back lightsaber spin, but Ahsoka is able to get a kick in before confidently proclaiming that he has little to teach her. Anakin destroys the bridge and Ahsoka falls, landing in and amongst a pink haze. It’s the Battle of Ryloth, and Clone Troopers emerge from the mist. Before the smile has time to form on my face, at seeing the 501st, they swap out Ahsoka for Ariana Greenblatt, playing a younger version, the character we were introduced to back in The Clone Wars. Greenblatt crushed the following scene, as Ahsoka clashed with Anakin over not wanting to be a soldier. We then experience an incredible visual shot of Anakin, Rex and the 501st running into battle, with the former alternating from Anakin to Vader as the bombs hit the ground. This was a stunning visual, a highly emotionally charged scene – it was Star Wars at its best!

Following up this stunning scene… oh, nothing, just the Siege of Mandalore – including Maul’s horned-helmeted Kyr’tsad Ori’ramikade and Captain Rex – voiced by Temuera Morrison. STOP IT DAVE! You’re just spoiling us at this point! Again, I love the inner struggle that Ahsoka has and the conflict it causes – perfectly fitting this point in her character journey, as well as offering a reflection on what she needs to carry forward in the present. Again, the switch-up between Anakin and Vader was so well executed, as were the red eyes, that appeared in both Ahsoka and Anakin, albeit momentarily. With Ahsoka choosing to “live”, she passes back into the now and is rescued from the sea.

With Ahsoka back on her feet, they need a plan to be able to follow Sabine, especially now that the Senate is looking to suspend Hera’s command! The answer comes in the form of the Purrgil! I’m always on board with anything Purrgil-related, so it gets the thumbs up from me! Ahsoka is able to connect with one of the larger Purrgils and they take up position inside its mouth and are transported away into the beyond. To be honest, this was the only way I thought they could follow them, although half of me did feel they may just split the cast and have Ahsoka stay here. But, it’s her show, so she needs to go where the action is! I’m glad Hera is staying behind as I’m interested in seeing them develop the Remment and New Republic plots.

Wow. What an emotionally charged and visually stunning episode! I think some may be disappointed that it wasn’t all Anakin and Ahsoka. But I think I prefer the braver decision, in not making that the sole focus of the episode. Anakin was able to pass on his lesson, Ahsoka’s final nudge towards understanding the burden and responsibility of teaching a Padawan, but we kept the momentum of the show’s main arc. I loved all of the visuals in all of their scenes and thought Ariana Greenblatt was outstanding as Young Ahsoka. As much as my heart was full of joy, seeing Hayden Christensen in this episode, he only got to “watery eyes” level from me, as it was the final scene in the episode that had me in floods of tears! Kevin Kiner’s score is phenomenal and this piece of music especially, coupled with the flashbacks to the Purrgils in the Rebels finale, just unlocked all of these emotions and memories that fired up within me. It was a stunning end to an episode!

Ahsoka goes from strength to strength every week, and it doesn’t appear that this upward trajectory is showing any signs of stopping, which can only be a positive thing for the viewers!