Ahsoka Season 1 Episode 5 Review: Part Five: Shadow Warrior

This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.

Ahsoka Season 1 Episode 5, “Part Five: Shadow Warrior,” picks up immediately after the final moments of Ahsoka Season 1 Episode 4, “Part Four: Fallen Jedi.” Much to the excitement of viewers who have been itching for more moments from Hayden Christensen’s Anakin Skywalker.

This latest installment, which is both written and directed by Dave Filoni, keeps audiences guessing from start to finish. “Part Five: Shadow Warrior” proves once and for all that the animated Star Wars series shouldn’t be ignored or discounted.

If anything, Ahsoka wouldn’t exist without Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels because the vast majority of characters, creatures, droids, planets, and force-related concepts come from them.

The Significance of Ahsoka’s Journey to the World Between Worlds

Of course, Anakin lays out from the start of Ahsoka’s journey to the World Between Worlds that she has to choose: live or die. However, that doesn’t mean Ahsoka’s journey to make her decision is cut and dry or even linear for that matter.

Naturally, her choosing to fight him at first makes viewers think she is choosing to live, but is she? After all, fighting her former master simply leads her deeper into the World Between Worlds.

While the saber battle between Ahsoka and the Anakin she knew as Snips is insane and filled with satisfaction for long-time fans, it isn’t even the most exciting part of the first third of the episode.

Sure, traveling back in time to Ahsoka’s early days as a Jedi and then her years as an older Jedi fighting on Mandalore gives us an opportunity to see moments we have only ever seen animated. But, that doesn’t mean we miss out on the true meaning of these flashbacks.

Anakin: You are part of a legacy

Ahsoka: But my part of that legacy is one of death and war.

Anakin: But you’re more than that because I’m more than that.

Ahsoka: You are more, Anakin. But more powerful and dangerous than anyone realized.

If we look hard enough, we see Ahsoka waking up to realize what it is she needs to learn from this journey. Her conversation with Anakin as he slowly transitions into Sith Anakin shows fans the moment it clicks for Ahsoka that she doesn’t have to fight him to survive.

The two might still exchange moves in a resumed lightsaber battle, Anakin’s now red instead of the blue he started with. However, Ahsoka is merely doing it now to show that she has grown beyond the fears her time with Anakin created within her.

For years she has roamed the galaxy alone because she was terrified that being all that Anakin is means that she, too, would destroy the people and planets she swore to protect. Now she knows that she is better than Anakin because she knows that she doesn’t have to fight and kill another in order to live.

Jacen’s Connection to the Force

First and foremost, I have to point out that Hera is the best mom in the galaxy. Not only does she allow her son to see what doing the right thing can actually mean, but she also listens to him when he speaks.

This faith in him comes in handy when the squad is looking for any sign of Ahsoka and Sabine. He tells her he hears a lightsaber battle beneath the waves, and instead of dismissing him, she stands there and listens with him.

The fact that Jacen can hear within the World Between Worlds shows just how strong his connection to the force is. He is a Jedi to watch out for in the future, and from the look on Ahsoka’s face, she knows it too.

Jacen is still young and has much to learn about the Jedi path, but he has a joy and enthusiasm that should never be suppressed. Hera recognizes that her son is exceptional, which allows her to trust his instincts.

While Ahsoka did release herself from the World Between Worlds, Hera and her squad wouldn’t have found Ahsoka had she not been already flying as low as she could over the water.

Ahsoka takes the time to showcase little moments of Jacen because it is proof that there are still force-sensitive people out there. The Jedi doesn’t end with the Skywalker’s line.

Jacen creates an opportunity for Ahsoka to become more than just his mom’s cool Jedi-trained friend.

Ahsoka’s Talents Create A Storyline Loophole

It is well known that Ahsoka has always been extremely force-sensitive. To the point that she can use the force to communicate beyond the bounds of spoken words. 

This, of course, creates a nice clean loophole for the corner the writers have managed to back themselves into with Baylan and Sabine’s story. After all, the map is destroyed, taking with it the opportunity to get the correct coordinates.

Naturally, Ahsoka’s solution to this problem is to position her ship as close to the space whales as possible and choose the biggest one to communicate with. This gives her a ride to what she hopes is the same coordinates that Baylan took.

Without the whales or her ability to communicate with them the rescue for Sabine would be dead upon arrival. It’s a fascinating turn of events and keeps the audience guessing about the outcome, but it’s also a bit too convenient.

It’ll be interesting to see if the whales actually deposit Huyang and Ahsoka within the vicinity of Sabine and her captors. 

Stray Thoughts

• Chopper’s mechanical “uh oh” will never not be funny
• “There’s hope for you yet.” THAT VALIDATION! Ahsoka really needed that despite being angry at who Anakin became
• The transitions between eye color, demeanor, and saber colors to indicate which Anakin Ahsoka is talking to were FLAWLESS. Truly.
• Carson is a diversion KING!

 

What did you think of this episode of Ahsoka? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Ahsoka airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on Disney+.

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