What a way to end the season! Ahsoka has been on a roll since Episode 4 which pumped up the stakes and featured some of the best action sequences in Star Wars. Then Episode 5 did a tremendous job following the premise established by Episode 4 and took the show to colossal heights, making it the best Star Wars episode since Andor. And while Episode 6 and episode 7 ended up being a bit dull compared to the preceding episodes, the finale is everything we wanted it to be and more. So, read on to catch our verdict on Ahsoka Episode 8 but beware that major spoilers follow below!
Ahsoka Episode 8 Review – The Perfect End to A Great Season
While it is no Andor, Ahsoka has managed to rise above the Star Wars mediocrity by delivering some exceptional moments and building towards a greater narrative. Episode 8 ended things in an Empire Strikes Back kind of way as our heroes failed to stop Thrawn from returning to the Galaxy. While we all anticipated this, it was really epic to see that unfold on screen. Episode 8 was jam-packed with action and further tapped into the mystical side of Star Wars by bringing in Undead Troopers, Blade of Talzin, and a lot of Force.
Episode 8 opened with a really cool and supernatural sequence involving Morgan joining the Sisterhood and being granted the Blade of Talzin. The flaming sword was first seen during Clone Wars where was summoned by Mother Talzin to duel Mace Windu. Moving on, the episode offered some cool character development for both Ahsoka and Sabine as they finally fixed their strained relationship and work as a team. It also unlocked Sabine’s potential with the Force and we got to see her use it like a boss. The sequence towards the end when Ezra jumped on the Destroyer with the help of Sabine’s force push, was one of the absolute highlights of the episode.
Another highlight for the episode was the duel between Ahsoka and Morgan. Brilliantly choreographed and deftly executed, this duel will be remembered by fans for years to come. During this duel, we saw Morgan literally chop one of Ahsoka’s sabers using her Blade of Talzin, only to be defeated a few minutes later as Ahsoka landed a killing blow on her torso. Yes, we reckon she is dead for real as the Dark mothers confirmed so to Thrawn. As for Thrawn himself, he proved worthy of being called Grand Admiral as he managed to escape and trap Ahsoka and Sabine, using his wits and experience. Aside from that however, he didn’t have much to do but to stand there, order stuff and take reports. Guess we’ll truly see how formidable he is in the upcoming Mando-verse content.
Ezra also had some heartfelt conversations with Sabine and Huyang, and was also the only one to make it back to the galaxy to be reunited with Hera. It was also a delight watching him use the force as well as Ahsoka and making quick work of most of his opponents. One thing which was highly unlike Mando-verse was that there were absolutely no forced cameos in the episode, in fact the entire series. Fans expected to see characters like Bo-Katan, Luke Skywalker, Din Djarin, and Grogu but that didn’t happen and we are glad that it didn’t. It was good to see Force Ghost of Anakin and Morai in the end though.
As for the technical aspects, once again, the CGI, cinematography, action choreography, make-up, production design, and scoring were quite flawless just like the previous episodes. So, it checked all boxes in the technical department maintaining its quality as a visual spectacle. Ahsoka definitely seemed too good to be on TV and was on and on cinematic delight.
Episode 8 Ending Explained and Future
Honestly, there is not much to explain about the end of the series so we’ll just do a quick recap of where each character stands. Grand Admiral Thrawn along with most of his forces has now returned to the main galaxy, Morgan Elsbeth has been killed by Ahsoka, Shin is seen reuniting with some of the red troopers, and Baylan Skoll is seen standing on a statue of a Mortis God. Skoll’s ending has left fans stunned as this means we’ll explore the mystical side of Star Wars even more deeply. The Mortis Gods are tied to the Force itself, and that is probably why Baylan hears them calling to him. It is possible that Baylan finds Mortis itself and act as the new keeper of the balance. He was looking for a higher purpose the entire series and it would be a rather fitting end to his character arc.
Talking about our heroes, while Ezra and Hera have reunited, Ahsoka, Sabine, and Huyang have been left stranded. They’ll apparently be rescued in future or it is also possible that they return the same way they came using the Purrgils. As for Mon Mothma, we do not see her in the finale but it can be assumed that she would help out our leads in future and form a task force of some kind. Now let us talk about Thrawn because he will serve as the primary antagonist for rest of the Mando-verse. His ship was seen heading towards Dathomir, nicknamed the “rancor planet“ bathed in blood-red light by its sun Domir. This is a planet where the dark side of the force is especially strong and it was once ruled by the Nightsisters. Some fans are also speculating that Thrawn arriving on Dathomir is the symbol of the First Order.
Final Verdict – Even with a few flaws, Ashoka is a pretty decent entry in the Star Wars franchise and is miles better than The Book of Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and The Mandalorian Season 3. While many sceptics believed Star Wars is about to be obsolete, it seems like with Ahsoka, things are just getting started and there is a lot to be explored in the franchise. This is just the stepping off point and loads of adventures await us from here. On to Skeleton Crew and The Mandalorian Season 4 now, which will further progress the Mando-verse!
All 8 episodes of Ahsoka are now available to stream only on Disney Plus!
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