Summary
- Ahsoka spent a lot of time building up to a new Star Wars galaxy.
- The new galaxy lacked new technology, new races, or anything special.
- Star Wars needs to further develop the new galaxy to make it worthwhile.
The following contains spoilers for Ahsoka Season 1, Episode 6 "Far, Far Away," which is now streaming on Disney+.
Ahsoka has been building up to a few huge moments with the series. The reintroduction of Grand Admiral Thrawn, the reunion with Ezra Bridger, and the introduction of a new galaxy to Star Wars. In Season 1, Episode 6 "Far, Far Away," all of those tasks were accomplished. While Ezra and Thrawn delivered in spades, the new galaxy was less than impressive. Bringing a new galaxy to the Star Wars universe should have been the biggest moment of the episode, yet instead it felt like a footnote that lacked any real substance or purpose.
The current Star Wars canon has always kept to telling stories centered in the same galaxy. This ties into the criticism that Star Wars visits the same planets, like Tatooine, and repeats the same biomes too often. So when Ahsoka brought the idea of a new galaxy to explore to the table, Star Wars fans were intrigued and excited. While Ahsoka has consistently delivered fantastic Star Wars episodes, the lack of uniqueness in the new galaxy is disappointing. In what was otherwise a strong episode for Ahsoka, the new galaxy stands out as a glaring weak point.
What Was the Point of a New Star Wars Galaxy?
With Star Wars going through the trouble of introducing an entire new galaxy, it would make sense to that it had a larger purpose in the story. Instead, Ahsoka brought characters to a new galaxy that was essentially the same as everything else in Star Wars. It had the same weapons, some of the same races, and it seems that there was nothing that made this new galaxy special. It was visually similar to other Star Wars planets and even the blasters functioned the exact same as in other Star Wars material. Peridea was the gateway to a new chapter and it lacked any fanfare.
Meeting new Nightsisters was very cool, but it continues to be more of the same. Instead of having a new race, Ahsoka decided to just recycle the Nightsisters. Learning more about this mysterious race of witches is fun for fans, but what could have been more interesting is if Thrawn had to fight to conquer a new species or even if the world felt completely foriegn. Yet, all the characters seemed to function as if nothing was different. It was just another day in Star Wars, despite Morgan, Baylan, and Shin doing something that had almost never been done before.
Star Wars Should Have Stayed Home
Ahsoka could have accomplished all the same things by just visiting a previously undiscovered planet within the Star Wars galaxy. It would have cut down on build up within the early episodes of Ahsoka, allowing for more time with Thrawn and his new stormtroopers. Star Wars: Rebels never specified where Ezra and the Purrgils took Thrawn, so the story could have easily been set anywhere. Fans can enjoy all the wonderful aspects of Ahsoka while still being disappointed at the new galaxy. It may be that this new galaxy will still make an impact in coming episodes, or even in future films.
Ahsoka has been a stunning adventure so far. With Sabine becoming Force sensitive, Ahsoka rediscovering her purpose as a Jedi, and the return of Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka has made a huge impact on Star Wars. The new galaxy could have been something special, but it lacked anything to define it as new. The new galaxy was just the same old Star Wars and leaves fans with little to celebrate. Hopefully future installments of the franchise will help to develop this new galaxy even further.
Ahsoka streams new episodes on Tuesdays at 6pm PT/9pm ET on Disney+.