The Cutprice Guignol

I mean, we have to talk about the Anakin stuff, don’t we?

After the cliffhanger in last week’s episode, I’m pretty sure the whole Star Wars fandom (myself included) were chomping at the proverbial bit Shadow Warrior’s live-action Anakin and Ahsoka meeting we’ve been waiting for since the Ahsoka series was announced. And let me tell you: it did not disappoint.

I mean, where to even start? Ahsoka’s tumble through her memories and Jedi mind palace made for some of the most astoundingly impressive cinematography in the entire franchise, animated, live-action, TV or movie. Arianna Greenblatt embodied the young Ahsoka pretty much perfectly, and seeing her in live action really underlines just how freaking young Ahsoka was in this era – the animated version sometimes obscures that a bit, but here, Dave Filoni (on dual-ended writing and directing duties) presents her unflinchingly as the child soldier she was. The gut reaction of oh my god get that infant baby out of there this instant has never been stronger. But most of all, this was a chance to engage with one of Star Wars’ most compelling characters, Anakin Skywalker.

We’ve never seen this version of Anakin in live action before, Ahsoka’s master, the man who existed in The Clone Wars, and I really think this is the best Hayden Christensen has ever been in the role. Notoriously weighed down by dreadful writing from George Lucas in the prequel trilogy, he brings a contrasting maturity and weight to this performance that captures the complex expanse of Ahsoka’s feelings towards him, and it’s a gift to see him given a chance to really dig in to this endlessly rich character through such a new lens. Dave Filoni is famously a huge fan of the Star Wars series, and he treats Anakin’s character here with a deep reverence but also deep understanding that makes this one of his best outings in the whole franchise. The shot of him, walking into battle, flashing between Vader and Anakin, is a perfect snapshot of his arc across the prequel trilogy and related spin-offs: running into battle and what that demands of him, Anakin becomes Vader before anyone even realizes.

This segment of the episode felt like a gift for those who’ve stuck with the animated series, who’ve committed to The Clone Wars and Rebels and everything else, from the perfect visual symmetry between Hayden Christensen and The Clone Wars’ Anakin to famous scenes like the Siege of Mandalore in live-action. But it never feels too indulgent for me, always focused on how this can serve the rest of the story in this episode and Ahsoka’s season arc at large.

Because there is more to this episode, of course, and it’s…good. Just good. For me, the opening Anakin-Ahsoka sequence renders this outing a little top-heavy, and what follows doesn’t quite match the level of intensity the beginner delivers. Hera, Jacen, and company search for Ahsoka and Sabine, and it’s not terrible, but it doesn’t match with the enormity of what’s going on elsewhere. There are also a couple of moments – such as Huyang having to explain Jacen’s parentage to make sense of his force sensitivity – that feels pretty clunky and expository for the sake of people who haven’t watched Rebels (and, truly, I can’t imagine anyone who hasn’t has made it this far without having to at least do some serious homework).

The climactic scene, with Ahsoka strolling into a space whale to find Ezra and Sabine, nearly reaches the emotional dénouement it’s reaching for, but falls a tiny bit short. It does look gorgeous, and Ahsoka’s peace in herself after her scenes with Anakin are satisfying and well-earned – but it drags on a little, and I found myself wondering if it would have been better running a little shorter instead of being a whole act of basically people looking in awe outside of a window at a passing space whale.

But, honestly, Shadow Warrior is an extraordinary culmination of Dave Filoni’s work on the Star Wars franchise – and cements his place as the writer with the most compelling and nuanced take on Anakin Skywalker.

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Obi-Wan 

 The Mandalorian

Movie Universe

(header image via Digital Spy)