In the wide world of Disney+’s Star Wars series, where interesting stories and the limits of people’s attention spans often clash, Steph Green’s skill as a director shows through in an episode that follows multiple storylines.
But this genius is paired with a problem that many of the streaming platform’s shows have: episodes that are too short to reach their full potential. This difference is clear in the most recent episode of Ahsoka, as the show tries to find a good mix between telling a deep story and keeping the episode short. Let’s dive in with us with the Ashoka Episode 3 Recap.
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Steph Green’s Skillful Direction in a Brief Episode That Meanders
With the exception of Andor and Obi-Wan Kenobi, which adeptly capitalized on their audience’s captive streaming attention span, all the Disney+ Star Wars series have grappled with episodes that are too short, curbing their potential prematurely. Following a substantial two-episode debut, Ahsoka stumbles into the same predicament with Episode 3, clocking in at a mere thirty minutes.
This concise storytelling approach echoes the pattern familiar to fans of The Clone Wars and Rebels, although those series enjoyed seasons spanning fifteen to twenty-two episodes. In those cases, shorter episodes found their place within larger frameworks, affording stories the time to evolve across multiple arcs. However, with Ahsoka’s eight-episode Season 1, Dave Filoni finds himself without the luxury to leisurely navigate the narrative, and this issue becomes particularly evident in the ironically titled “Time to Fly.”
The episode commences in the wake of “Toil and Trouble,” with Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo) training under Huyang’s (David Tennant) guidance aboard Ahsoka’s (Rosario Dawson) ship, embarking on a journey to uncover more about Thrawn’s (Lars Mikkelsen) impending resurgence. While the training sequence isn’t groundbreaking—especially for those acquainted with Star Wars games like Jedi Challenges or Jedi: Fallen Order—Steph Green’s direction lends it visual appeal.
The Disney+ description for “Time to Fly” alludes to Hera (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) grappling with New Republic politics in the episode. However, this theme remains cursorily explored. Hera meets with Chancellor Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly) and a panel of disinterested senators to discuss her findings at the Santhe Shipyards on Corellia. Though she raises concerns about Imperial sympathizers, the senators insist that former Imperials remain loyal. Mothma shows genuine concern when Hera reveals her theory that Thrawn might still be alive, but the rest of the panel remains unimpressed. This exchange contrasts with “Master and Apprentice,” suggesting that Ahsoka and Hera hadn’t previously discussed the search for Thrawn or Ezra Bridger. As a result, the senators accuse Hera of diverting New Republic funds for her personal quest to locate Ezra.
Subsequent to the meeting, Hera encounters her son Jacen (Evan Whitten) in the hallway. Chopper, everyone’s beloved murder droid, has informed Jacen about Sabine’s plans to become a Jedi. Jacen enthusiastically declares his desire to become a Jedi, despite the ill-fated history of anyone named Jacen. Hera fondly reassures him. For fans of Rebels, this fleeting moment carries significance, given Jacen’s late Jedi father, Kanan Jarrus. Notably, Ahsoka avoids direct mention of Kanan, folding him into the broader “family” Hera lost in the fight against Thrawn during the war. Regrettably, the depth of Hera’s nostalgic smile may elude the casual viewer, much like many other profound moments in the series.
To Embrace or Not to Embrace Jedi
In a show led by a former member of the Jedi Order, within an era boasting few remaining Jedi, Ahsoka appears captivated by the concept of Jedi. Roughly a third of the episode endeavors to expand upon Sabine’s prior Jedi training with Ahsoka. Despite the premiere dedicating substantial time to establish Sabine’s force sensitivity, the tension stemming from her and Ahsoka’s failed apprenticeship, and the prospect of resuming her training, “Time to Fly” seems hesitant to fully embrace these narrative threads.
If we disregard Huyang’s input, Sabine demonstrates proficiency with a lightsaber—adept form and natural instincts—yet she firmly insists that she lacks the same force sensitivity as Ahsoka. The dialogue even contradicts whether Ahsoka and Sabine formally engaged in a master-apprenticeship dynamic. Ahsoka dismisses the notion that Sabine needs to become a Jedi, acknowledging her departure from the Jedi Order. Despite her influence on Luke’s role in the second decline of the Jedi Order, Ahsoka acknowledges the Order’s inherent issues. While Huyang’s playful jabs about the lineage of failed Jedi before Ahsoka provide amusement, they can’t salvage the disjointed presentation of this plotline.
The episode’s latter segment takes flight as Ahsoka and Sabine discover their adversaries constructing a hyperspace ring, presumably to journey to a distant galaxy. A confrontation with Shin Hati (Ivanna Sakhno) and a cohort of disposable fighter pilots forces Ahsoka and Sabine to collaborate once more. This harmony is a refreshing sight after their earlier strained interactions, offering a glimpse of a warmer Ahsoka—an element notably absent in her live-action portrayal.
Following a narrow escape from Morgan Elsbeth’s (Diana Lee Inosanto) grasp, Ahsoka and Sabine retreat to a nearby planet’s forest, reflecting on their encounter with a creature during the skirmish. Rebels fans already recognize the stars they soared among—the Purrgils. For once, Ahsoka takes time to elucidate that Purrgils were last encountered when Ezra and Thrawn disappeared.
Huyang clarifies that Morgan Elsbeth’s construction of the hyperspace ring involves the Purrgils, capable of transporting to a neighboring galaxy. The episode concludes somewhat anti-climactically with Baylan Skoll (Ray Stevenson) issuing orders to hunt down “The Jedi.” However, overlooking earlier discussions in the episode, neither Ahsoka nor Sabine is technically a Jedi. Perhaps someone should inform Baylan of this detail.
Time Flies When You’re Enjoying
“Time to Fly” aptly captures the essence of Episode 3, as time indeed seems to pass swiftly while watching. Green’s direction and O’Reilly’s brief appearance constitute the episode’s redeeming elements, despite Bordizzio’s and Winstead’s commendable efforts to salvage disjointed character arcs. The episode concludes abruptly, devoid of closure or a cliffhanger, an unconventional approach to foreshadowing the forthcoming journey. Whether Ahsoka can stitch together a more coherent narrative arc by the midway point of the series remains to be seen.
Conclusion for Ashoka Episode 3 Recap
Are we witnessing an eight-episode series priming us for Filoni’s forthcoming feature film? This wouldn’t be surprising, given The Mandalorian’s second season served as a backdoor pilot for Ahsoka and the shelved Rangers of The New Republic. Episode 3 could have benefited from an additional fifteen minutes of storytelling to anchor crucial plot elements, glossed over thus far for more casual viewers. Nevertheless, the premiere affirmed that Ahsoka caters to a niche audience, one perhaps inclined toward abbreviated episodes.
All three episodes of Ahsoka are now available for streaming on Disney+. Thank you for visiting us, keep following our website to get the latest news.
