A young Ahsoka stands on the battlefield. A child who still has much to learn begins by learning how to fight. The adult Ahsoka is reunited with her former master, Anakin. Episode 5 of “Ahsoka” connects the past war with the present conflict.
Anakin is a teacher who taught Ahsoka how to survive. However, for Ahsoka, those teachings are not just a source of gratitude. There remains a fear that she, too, could become a destroyer like her teacher.
In this meeting, I felt more acutely the burden that Asoka carried than I felt any sense of joy. Now that she is in a position to teach others, she must re-examine the very lessons she received. She has the experience of a teacher, but her retraining as a teacher is only just beginning.
Her apprentice, Sabine, is a warrior searching for her missing friend, Ezra. Ahsoka must trust Sabine, but trusting someone does not mean that all of their choices are right. *Ahsoka* powerfully demonstrates how to trust a student, but it glosses over the issue of sharing responsibility for the student’s mistakes too quickly.
Even teachers must learn again
I value the choices driven by the teacher’s fear more than stories of chasing enemies. In “Ahsoka,” the most difficult struggle is when the one teaching a student must confront their own past.
From the outside, the mission seems clear: Ahsoka must prevent the return of Imperial commander Thrawn. Sabine wants to find her missing friend, Ezra, who disappeared with him.
The two individuals follow the same map, but their desires are different. What is important to Ashoka is the danger that lies ahead. For Sabine, what is urgent is the person she has already lost.
If this difference had simply been handled as the student’s stubbornness, the story would have been straightforward. The teacher would guide the student, and the student would eventually realize the truth. However, this work makes even the teacher question their own judgment.
What Ahsoka is wary of is not just Sabine’s mistake. It is the possibility that she herself, who leads Sabine, could also go down the wrong path. This fear is rooted in the time she spent with Anakin.
There is a difference between learning how to survive and receiving good instruction. Just because a certain attitude was necessary in a battlefield does not mean it is appropriate when dealing with students. Asoka must learn this distinction.
Therefore, I like episode 5’s revisiting of the past. They connect the memories of the young soldier with the battles fought by the adult Ahsoka. Encountering an old mentor becomes a way to evaluate one’s current self.
In this part, I felt more sympathy for Ahsoka’s situation than for Anakin’s appearance. She is a person who cannot abandon the teachings that saved her, nor can she simply pass them on unchanged. There is no easy answer here that simply says “do as you are taught.”
It is not necessary to reject a teacher in order to become a different teacher. One must acknowledge what one has received from that teacher, and then choose what not to repeat. What is more important for Ahsoka is this discernment, rather than fighting skills.
When viewed this way, the attempt to control Sabin can also be interpreted differently. It is not only due to a condescending attitude towards the student, but also because the person attempting control fears a failure that they cannot handle. However, fear does not justify control.
Preventing a student from making mistakes is different from helping them make their own choices. The work places Ashoka at that difficult crossroads. Thanks to this choice, I found the training of the two to be more than just a process of developing their abilities.
Now, the important thing is how Ashoka, who understands the past, treats Sabin. How different a face will the teacher, who has realized what she feared, show to the student who is now by her side?
The moment of relief is created by the actor
The contrast between the two female leads highlights the transformation of the teacher and student relationship. Rosario Dawson portrays a character who is closed off and resistant, while Natasha Liu Bordizzo expresses frustration in her presence. Because the two characters are not initially affectionate, the change that leads them to trust each other is all the more welcome.
Dawson, who plays Ahsoka, imbues her calm expression with different emotions around episode 5. Before facing Anakin, her stern expression conveys a distance that keeps her from readily accepting Sabine. Afterward, she maintains that composure while making room to accept her apprentice’s choice.
I appreciated that Dawson didn’t suddenly transform Ahsoka into a warm and friendly person. Just because someone has overcome their fear doesn’t mean their personality has to change. The slight softening in her attitude towards Sabine, the shift from being someone who gives orders to someone who waits to hear them, speaks volumes.
Sabine, played by Bordizzo, portrays both the confidence of a warrior and the frustration of a trainee. In the training that involves manipulating the Force, a power that connects life and the universe, even a skilled body cannot always provide the answers one seeks. This frustration, combined with the desperate desire to find Ezra, explains her inclination towards reckless choices.
It does not mean that Sabin is justified simply because one feels sorry for him. Bordizzo’s performance makes us understand him, but it does not excuse his wrongdoings. It is precisely in this gap that I find myself wanting to know more about this character.
Ray Stevenson, who plays another mentor, Baylan, creates a different kind of distance with his low voice. In his duel with Ahsoka, he pressures his opponent with the weight of his body, and when speaking to his apprentice, Shin, he establishes an authority that cannot easily be questioned. Even while listening to his explanations, one rarely feels that one has grown closer to the mentor.
Ivanna Sakhno, who plays Shin, shows impatience when confronting Sabin. Shin, listening to Baylan’s explanation lacks confidence. Although she follows her teacher, she does not know where he is going.
Looking at Shin standing next to Baylan, one can see Ahsoka’s transformation more clearly. The relationship between a disciple who follows the teacher’s will and a teacher who listens to the disciple’s choices is different. The actors portray this difference without lengthy explanations, using only their expressions and voices.
However, the change does not mean that everything before it was good. Therefore, was all of that initial, heavy silence also a necessary time?
I will not offer excuses for being slow
I agree with the criticism that the beginning was slow. However, I do not agree with the assertion that all of Asuka’s calmness equates to helplessness.
The problem is not that the character speaks little. The problem is that, during those periods of silence, it is difficult to fully understand what the character is enduring. While early-stage Ashoka is calm, the fear beneath that calmness is rarely revealed.
The reasons for stopping Thrawn and the need to find Ezra are explained. However, understanding the mission and emotionally accepting the conflict between the two individuals are separate matters. I was more interested in why they found it difficult to trust each other than in where they needed to go.
Even Dawson’s stern expression is a disadvantage in this section. The difference between feelings of concern for his student and feelings of disappointment in his student is becoming blurred. This is a moment where restrained acting, intended to conceal emotions, is becoming indistinguishable from acting that simply fails to convey emotions.
While it is good that the class is being conducted carefully, once attendance has been taken, the curriculum should also progress accordingly.
It’s not as if more dialogue would have solved the problem. If Ashoka had simply expressed her fear through her lines, the explanation would have been longer. What was needed was not the amount of dialogue, but the scene that showed her experiencing that fear.
What the fifth episode achieved was this. When we connect the memory of being a young soldier to the current conflict, a reason emerges for Ashoka’s rigid demeanor. She was afraid that guiding her apprentice would mean passing on the very war she had learned.
Here, I was able to narrow the initial distance. It was more painful for the student who had to choose what to learn again, than seeing the face of the beloved teacher. Ashoka finds a way to be a different kind of teacher without erasing the past.
This achievement does not entirely compensate for the slow progress in the earlier stages. Explaining the reasons later does not erase the experience of having felt emotionally blocked earlier. However, it clearly demonstrates that composure itself was not a wrong choice.
What I desire is not for Asoka to become a more impulsive or talkative person. I wanted to understand, even a little earlier, how worry and distrust are intertwined in the hand that holds Sabina. Only then can the change that allows one to release that hand be more deeply understood.
Then, did this drama, which so thoroughly explored the wounds left by learning, also delve into the same depths when addressing the mistakes made by the apprentice?
It is not enough to simply have the desire to find a friend
When we think of “The Rebel,” Sabin’s earnestness becomes more understandable. However, it is regrettable that this drama places the responsibility for Sabin’s choices on her.
In the previous installment, Ezra sacrificed himself for his companions and disappeared. What Sabin is searching for is not simply a friend with whom contact has been lost. It is someone who could not return to them.
Therefore, the desire to reclaim Ezra is not solely driven by longing. It also includes a desire to return what was received. I appreciate Sabin’s determination not to leave him as merely a victim of the past.
Just because someone saves everyone doesn’t mean the remaining people can forget about him. Even for someone who has accomplished great things, there needs to be an opportunity to return to the side of his friends. Sabin’s desire is an effort to reclaim that rightful place.
However, there is a difference between having a sufficient reason to save a friend and being willing to accept any risk. The return of Thrawn, which Ahsoka is trying to prevent, is not just a problem for the two of them. When the desire to find a friend clashes with the need to prevent a greater danger, it is not possible to find an answer based solely on emotion.
Here, the differences between “Rebels” and this work become significant. Ezra gives up his own share for his companions. Sabine faces the risk posed to others while trying to win him back.
The sacrifices one is willing to accept for oneself are not the same as the risks one is willing to impose on others. I am not asking Sabin to abandon her friend. If she chooses not to abandon her friend, I hope she will bear the full weight of that decision until the end.
For audiences who have seen the previous work, the very feeling of reunion is already deeply touching, because simply hearing the name evokes memories of the time spent together. However, the feeling of joy cannot excuse Sabin’s wrongdoing.
Even viewers who have not seen the previous installments should understand why Sabin is so desperate. At the same time, they should also feel who is in danger because of that desperation. I can support Sabin more deeply when both of these aspects are shown together.
Understanding a student’s feelings is a good starting point. However, does understanding feelings mean that one cannot be held accountable for wrongdoing? I believe it is not about trust, but rather about turning a blind eye. The problem is not whether Sabin was wrong, but how long the drama lingers on it.
Forgiveness is swift, but responsibility is brief
The change in Asoka’s attitude, where she begins to trust Sabin again, is a positive development. However, the time spent addressing past wrongdoings is too short compared to the time spent on reconciliation, which blurs the distinction between trust and overlooking wrongdoing.
Sabine’s choice carries a risk that extends beyond the two individuals involved. However, in the process of resolving the relationship, the teacher’s acceptance of the student takes precedence. Because of that choice, the burdens that others must bear are pushed aside.
I do not want Ashoka to punish Sabine harshly. A teacher who stays by your side is better than one who dismisses their student. However, the promise to stay by someone’s side should not put an end to conversations about holding them accountable for their wrongdoings.
Reconciliation between a master and student cannot resolve grievances that affect the entire galaxy.
The reasons behind Sabin’s actions are sufficiently explained in the preceding narrative. What is now needed is not an explanation of her feelings, but rather how she accepts the risks she has caused others to endure. The drama does not linger on this point for as long as it does on the reconciliation.
The words “I trust you” implies that I will listen to your judgment again. To do so, it is necessary to address what went wrong in the previous judgment. If this process is brief, the trust will not solidify, but rather remain at the level of kind words.
This conversation is also necessary for Ahsoka. Even though she has relinquished the control she feared, the reason for her to interfere with her student’s choices does not disappear. Her willingness to point out mistakes while remaining present would have demonstrated the new lessons she has learned.
Holding Sabin accountable is not a loss of time. When he accepts the risks caused by his own choices, he becomes a more trustworthy student. It is regrettable that the opportunity for him to transition from someone who desperately wants something to someone who takes responsibility is diminishing.
The relationship between Bailon and Shin does not fill this gap. A student who followed his teacher now diverges from his objective, but there is insufficient time to evaluate the consequences of that teaching. The next choice for both of them will determine the answer for this season.
The relationship itself, regardless of whether it ends, is not the problem. However, both of these relationships, by moving to the next stage, leave less room for reflecting on the choices made so far. I was curious about what would happen next, and I wanted to hear more within the context of this story.
It was good that the teacher opened up to the student. Now, we must determine whether that teacher also did not shy away from the student’s mistakes.
Trust your students, but do not cover up their wrongdoings
My rating is 3.5 out of 5 stars. “Ahsoka” is a drama with clear flaws, but it is worth the time. In particular, the process by which the master, who feared failure, opens her heart to her student is powerful. However, she was unable to consistently distinguish between trusting her student and overlooking her student’s mistakes.
The revisiting of the past in episode five and the changes in the relationship created by the two female leads raised my overall evaluation. On the other hand, the relatively short process of taking responsibility, compared to the slow emotional development and reconciliation in the early episodes, is a clear negative point. More of the care devoted to understanding the mistakes should have been devoted to what followed as well.
If you are interested in the process of a master and apprentice regaining trust in each other, as much as the lightsaber duel, then I recommend it. For those who want to meet the characters from “Rebels” again, there is more to the story than just seeing familiar faces. This is because it not only brings back familiar characters, but also changes the way they interact with each other.
On the other hand, if you want a standalone adventure that starts quickly without any prior context, it is not recommended. Those who expect a story that thoroughly holds someone accountable after a major mistake will likely be disappointed. This season dedicates more time to repairing relationships.
When watching, it is best to follow what Ashoka fears, rather than what she teaches. Also, watch Baylan and Shin together. By comparing how the two teachers provide opportunities for their students, Ashoka’s transformation becomes clear.
The next works to be viewed are “Clone Wars” and “Star Wars: Rebels.” The former provides insight into the education and scars that Ahsoka received, while the latter adds to the emotional weight of the desire to bring Ezra back. However, even with a complete understanding of these circumstances, the responsibility for this season remains unchanged.
I believe in a teacher who does not abandon their students. However, simply staying by someone’s side and not questioning their mistakes are two different things.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can you understand “Ahsoka” without having seen the previous works?
It is understandable that Ahsoka seeks to prevent the return of Thrawn, and that Sabine is searching for her friend. However, the emotional connections between the characters are more deeply conveyed when one is familiar with “Star Wars: Rebels.” This is not recommended for those seeking a fast-paced and independent Star Wars experience.
Is “Ahsoka” a drama adapted from a novel?
This is not a direct adaptation of a novel. It is a live-action sequel that connects the characters and unfinished stories of “Star Wars: Rebels.” The story adds the central theme of Sabine as a Jedi Padawan, exploring the relationship between a master and a student.
How many episodes are in season 1, and where can I watch it?
Season 1 consists of a total of 8 episodes and is a drama series on Disney+. The initial episodes focus heavily on exposition and establishing relationships. It is better to follow the changes in attitude of the two main characters rather than focusing on a rapid progression of events.
What works are recommended to watch before viewing “Ashoka”?
If you are curious about the relationship between Sabine and Ezra, then “Star Wars: Rebels” is the first place to look. If you want to understand the relationship between Ahsoka and her former master, Anakin, then “The Clone Wars” will be helpful. Both works help viewers understand the student’s yearning and the teacher’s fear.
Is it worth watching even if you prefer character relationships over action?
For those with such preferences, it is highly recommended. The best part is not the victory or defeat in combat, but the process by which the master reflects on their own fears and regains trust in their student. However, the process of holding the student accountable for their mistakes is shorter compared to the reconciliation.
