#diana inosanto

[theuntitledblog]

Ahsoka (2023) - REVIEW

It's a polarizing time we're living through right now where discord has become so incredibly toxic that it seems like very little room is left for civilised discussion. Star Wars has not escaped this either with the reactions to both The Last Jedi and the Rise of Skywalker leaving such a bad taste in my mouth that I found myself not particularly excited for anything that was to come next for Star Wars. Thank the maker for what did come next. The Mandalorian's simplicity rekindled my passion, Andor's ambition and complexity gave me hope for what could be possible while Ahsoka has left me feeling excited for what's to come next for Star Wars. That's quite a turn around from where I was in 2019 and it's the best compliment I have for this series.

Ahsoka is an especially rewarding experience for me as I am a huge fan of The Clone Wars and Star Wars: Rebels animated shows for which this is a continuation. There is a joyous thrill for me in seeing these characters rendered in live action for the first time with my awareness of their backstories giving the series more of a presence and importance than what a completely original cast of characters might've been. How well this show does and how these characters are perceived with those unfamiliar with these shows is difficult for me to judge. There are moments throughout where the writers try to give some snippets of these characters histories and what they've been through, but the only way to really grasp where these characters have come from is by watching those shows. Whether that is a realistic expectation for the audience is highly questionable for me but at the very least, this series has enough qualities without this to make an impression. Ahsoka is visually impressive with a cinematic quality, has some outstanding set pieces, promising new characters and for the first time in a long time, seems to have given Star Wars a sense of direction again.

Yet for a show titled 'Ahsoka', I was surprised by how this never truly felt like Rosario Dawson's show. Episode five's 'The Shadow Warrior' delved deepest into the psyche of Ahsoka and her past, but otherwise Natasha Liu Bordizzo's Sabine Wren is as much, or arguably more so, of a lead than Ahsoka herself. The emotional stakes of the story feel more entwined with Sabine's search for Eman Esfandi's lost Jedi, Ezra Bridger than Ahsoka's quest to prevent the return of Lars Mikkelsen's Grand Admiral Thrawn. But it is the complicated Master/Padawan relationship between Ahsoka and Sabine that remains the most prominent character based thread of the show and one of the few to not have been inherited through Rebels.

Not everything in this show is a call back as it introduces some new characters with the most impressive of them being Ray Stevenson's Baylan Skoll. Skoll impresses from the outset with his imposing presence, mysterious demeanour and, throughout the 8 episode run, you get a sense there's more to this character to be explored. Stevenson's sad death casts a sadness over the proceedings and it's truly regrettable that we won't see more of Stevenson's stand out take on this original character. Other notable additions include Ivanna Sakno's Shin Hati and Jeryl Prescott Gallien, Claudia Black and Jane Edwina Seymour's Great Mothers who bring another aspect of Star Wars lore into live action for the first time. But this is a series that should satisfy fans with the live action debut of the world of Lothal, The Ghost, Chopper, Hera Syndulla (a sadly underused Mary Elizabeth Winstead), the Purrgil and of course, Huyang (an outstanding David Tennant).

VERDICT

Ahsoka is a welcome addition to the Star Wars Saga and is the most exciting entry since The Mandalorian. Whilst certain to resonate with fans of the extended Star Wars Saga, those unfamiliar may have more of a mixed experience as this first season sets up more than it resolves. But it is so entertaining, visually rich and leaves things in such an interesting position that the prospect of what comes next is an exciting one.

4/5

[artaboutcomics]

Diana Inosanto who played Magistrate Morgan Elsbeth in The Mandalorian, is now a major threat in the new Disney+ series Ahsoka. Inosanto trained with plastic lightsabers as a child with her father, and now she gets to fight with Rosario Dawson in Ahsoka.

[star-wars-forever]

For our friend, Ray

[tygendoughtryss]

Those are my personally highlights of photos from "605 Culture Pop Con" shared by Mr. Timothy Zahn so far. 🤩☺️

[spaceprincessleia]

"The magistrate is a former Imperial, but she's an industrialist. My idea was that she had a knowledge of metallurgy and obviously knew what beskar was. And she was pillaging this planet and stealing all of its resources - people who were willing to take everything from a world and give it to the Empire were valuable to the Empire. And even after the fall of the Empire, the people who built the war machine were still out there and really dangerous. They need to be tracked down because otherwise, they're going to keep doing what they're doing and find new ways to exploit people." (Dave Filoni, The Art of Star Wars - The Mandalorian S2)

MAGISTRATE VERSION 1B “It was around this time

that they wanted to make the magistrate a woman and

to maybe wear more red, the wine palette.“ Matyas

MAGISTRATE VERSION 119 “I really like graphic elements, something that has a really strong silhouette, especially for Star Wars; it‘s so important. [My concept art mentor] Dermot Power does such a good job with side profiles of characters. I think some of that, in my brain, it came out in this side view. [I was also exploring] the airbrush Blade Runner look for combat makeup and different hairstyles; if you can get the hair to work with the origami look for the clothing, heat-pressed hair that can be like very chiseled in structure.“ Matyas

MAGISTRATE VERSION 02 Matyas

MAGISTRATE VERSION 4B Matyas

MAGISTRATE VERSION 122 Matyas

“Jon was very insistent that the person playing the magistrate had to be somebody who was obviously skilled with martial arts, and we did a deep search trying to find somebody who could embody this character. Then I happened upon Diana Inosanto‘s name, and her history and her father [Dan Inosanto], who is a martial arts legend. Her family‘s connections to Bruce Lee [Dan Inosanto being his student and Diana, his goddaughter]. And that just felt right to me. Then, when we called her in, [we found out that] she‘s somebody who watches Clone Wars and Rebels with her kids. And she was just ecstatic. I said, ‘Well, you know who you‘re going to fight, right?’ She almost fell over right there.“ Filoni

MAGISTRATE VERSION 109

“I was also looking at kendo uniforms, or something that has that really graphic read [with strong shapes and silhouettes] like an origami look. They weren‘t saying ‘No,’ so I kept exploring things in that realm. Maybe her combat outfit is hidden under her formal look.“ Matyas

[scruffylookingpiratecaptain]

Don’t mind me, just crying about Eman Esfandi wearing the kyber crystal necklace I made for him during the Ahsoka panel at LA Comic Con.

[krystinaarielle]

What an honor to celebrate the launch of The Acolyte! This is my fourth year working in the High Republic era and it's so exciting to finally see this era in live action! It definitely did not disappoint. Congratulations to the incredible cast, crew, and Leslye💞 A special thank you to the High Republic authors. What a gift to see the parts of the Galaxy you helped create come to life in such a magical way. We are all the Republic.

[lorrainestea]

Star Wars never gives you a complete past of most characters or you know no details - which honestly is a shame

I want to see young Morgan Elsbeth angrily sitting over books, crying and having mental breakdowns because she just started studying engines and weapon designs, but as someone who lived her whole life so far surrounded by Magick she understands NOTHING

Bonus points if she already was a Magistrate on Calodan - like how funny it would be if the people came to her with their problems and she would be like NOT NOW I HAVE TECH EXAMS TOMORROW

[demifiendrsa]

Official character posters for Ahsoka

[starwarspathfinders]

Rosario Dawson, Eman Esfandi & Diana Lee Inosanto at FAN EXPO Boston (June 2024)

[stardestroyerss]

How special!

[gingy7891]

This poster is amazing!!!

[lasaraconor]

[star-wars-forever]

[tygendoughtryss]

"HAPPY NEW YEAR 2025" 🎇🎆🎉 😀

[nenyc]

AHSOKA | 01x04 - Part Four: Fallen Jedi