The following contains spoilers for Ahsoka Episode 5, "Part Five: Shadow Warrior," streaming now on Disney+
Dave Filoni clearly dreamed of making this Ahsoka episode for some time. "Part Five: Shadow Warrior" makes full use of Hayden Christensen's return as Anakin Skywalker and delivers a tsunami of Star Wars: The Clone Wars fan service by recreating his genre-defining animated series in full live-action. It's a true love letter to the cartoon that set off his and Ahsoka Tano's careers, and the manner in which these sequences explore Ahsoka's adult psychology isn't half bad either. "Shadow Warrior" might be the best Ahsoka episode so far.
"Shadow Warrior" limits itself to two locations: Hera's search for Ahsoka and Sabine's whereabouts on Seatos and Ahsoka's interactions with Anakin in the World Between Worlds. The former is fairly serviceable, featuring more conversations between Hera and Captain Carson Teva (Paul Sun-Hyung Lee) and establishing her son Jacen Syndulla's Force abilities, even namedropping Rebels' Kanan Jarrus in live-action. But the Anakin-Ahsoka scenes are the most captivating. This is the first time audiences have seen their relationship play out in live-action, and it's clear that Ahsoka has unfinished business to resolve. Not just the whole "Darth Vader/Order 66" thing and her Master's bloody legacy, but her own frustration at being raised as a literal child soldier -- a trait that has persisted throughout Ahsoka's life, from serving in The Clone Wars to her guilt over leaving the Jedi Order, serving the Rebellion, and now her desire to stop Thrawn's return in fear that it'll spark another war.
The best parts of this episode are the Clone Wars flashbacks, reverting Ahsoka to her teenage self (played by Barbie's Ariana Greenblatt). Split between what appears to be TCW Season 1's Battle of Ryloth and Season 7's Siege of Mandalore, the limited set pieces are almost psychedelic, with Filoni (directing his second episode after "Master and Apprentice) implementing smoke and distorted colors to keep Ahsoka's memories dreamlike. But as much as these scenes weigh on her emotionally, it's hard not to freak out at all the animated callbacks, like Christensen calling Ahsoka Snips while dressed in his season 1-2 Clone Wars uniform, Mandalorian super commandos, and even a very brief, cameo by a Temuera Morrison-voiced Captain Rex. It is everything Clone Wars fans could have wanted and then some.
In her limited screen time, Greenblatt does a good job channeling Ashley Eckstein's feisty younger version of Ahsoka. Her melancholic, dry-humored arguments with Christensen feel reminiscent of those early Clone Wars episodes where Anakin and his Padawan were still overcoming growing pains, both with each other and a fandom still getting used to Ahsoka's existence. Complete with Christensen embracing Matt Lanter's swashbuckling take on the Chosen One.
The stunning visuals and musical scores also lend "Shadow Warrior" its emotional gravitas. Particularly during Anakin and Ahsoka's lightsaber duels, which range from intense to outright dispiriting as Ahsoka battles his more intense Darth Vader counterpart. It's all part of Anakin's "Live or Die" lesson, forcing Ahsoka to recognize that he's still a part of her, but she must not dwell on past guilt or live in fear of becoming like Anakin. It's a rather clever and subtle way to explore Ahsoka's adulthood insecurities -- teased as far back as her The Mandalorian debut -- and a recognition of how much the ex-Jedi still has to learn despite all she's accomplished since leaving the Order.
The rest of the episode is less surreal than those Clone Wars recreations, but the heroes finally get on track. Using a variation of Cal Kestis' psychometry powers allows Ahsoka to sense what happened to Sabine via the Thrawn map's Force Echos and plot a Hail Mary course to her location: Hitching a ride on, or rather inside, one of the Purrgil star whales. It's another of those moments that reminds fans that Star Wars can be delightfully weird yet awe-inspiring at the same time -- especially for Ahsoka, who approaches the uncertainty of whether the Purrgil will get them to Sabine's destination with a new lease on life. Not to mention a more cheerful disposition. One that, hopefully, will improve their Master/Padawan relationship down the line.
More than previous episodes, "Shadow Warrior" does a great job advancing Ahsoka's characterization, paying tribute to her animated past, and finally moving the hero closer to an endgame with Thrawn. There's still plenty of stuff Ahsoka needs to address, but this small chapter in Ahsoka Tano's life seems destined to be remembered as a genuine Star Wars classic.
New Ahsoka Episodes Air Tuesdays at 9 pm EST/6 pm PST on Disney+.