Ahsoka’s real-life backstory is an even bigger redemption than Darth Vader

Proper now, Ahsoka is likely one of the largest names in leisure. A brand new Star Wars sequence is at all times a must-watch for followers of the franchise, and Ahsoka is maybe the franchise’s most fun TV try because the first season of The Mandalorian, with infinite potential because the plot of the Star Wars sequence kicks into gear.

However, for Ahsoka, getting up to now has been removed from easy. Ahsoka Tano, the mysterious ex-Jedi is rightly ranked among the many greatest Star Wars characters now, however this actually wasn’t at all times the case. In reality, Ahsoka’s real-life story of redemption is much more spectacular than Darth Vader‘s return to the sunshine.

Once you’re watching the Star Wars motion pictures so as from begin to end there’s possible one movie you at all times skip, both deliberately or not. In reality, you may not even realize it exists. Star Wars: The Clone Wars launched in 2008 as a precursor to the now-beloved sequence Clone Wars. It launched Ahsoka to the universe, and the animated film centered round her turning into Anakin’s Padawan on the outset of the Clone Wars and their joint preliminary adventures.

It was a rocky begin. Not solely was the movie fairly dangerous (with an 18% rating on Rotten Tomatoes to show it), however the starting of Ahsoka’s journey fell flat too. She was extensively disliked by the Star Wars fandom at giant, criticized as a personality for being an obnoxious and aggravating display presence.

In a current panel look, Ahsoka’s voice actor Ashley Eckstein described the immense outpouring of negativity directed at her character. “When it got here out, so many individuals hated Ahsoka,” she stated, by way of CBR. “I sobbed.”

The response didn’t change a lot within the early levels of the Clone Wars sequence. Ahsoka’s character growth was gradual, and for at the very least the primary season she continued to be seen as extra of an annoyance than a personality who followers have been rooting for. With season 3, issues began to alter.

The writing on the present typically improved, and Ahsoka’s character was taken in a brand new course as she matured. Her growth continued because the sequence progressed, and Ahsoka turned the driving pressure behind a number of the present’s greatest arcs, culminating in ‘The Unsuitable Jedi’ and its aftermath. However, on the similar time, Clone Wars was drawing to an in depth. The development of Ahsoka from pesky aspect character a matured pal for Anakin appeared prefer it was over.

Throughout the time Clone Wars was off the air, Ahsoka’s recognition solely expanded as new followers received onboard with the sequence and watched her progress. The rising fan help for Ahsoka noticed her turn into a central determine within the follow-up sequence Rebels, and finally even justified a remaining season of Clone Wars, which introduced her story full circle and confirmed how she survived Order 66.

As, arguably, the principle character of Star Wars’ TV output, Ahsoka has turn into a supply of fascination for devoted Star Wars followers. It’s that devotion, and love for her character, which noticed the event of her personal sequence, the place she would unequivocally tackle the main position.

Now, the Ahsoka sequence has arrived with Rosario Dawson taking up from Eckstein as an older, sensible, scarred model of this celebrated character. And, the numbers converse for themselves: the primary episode of the brand new sequence drew in a whopping 14 million views, making it the largest present on Disney Plus proper now. It’s positioning itself as probably the greatest TV sequence of 2023, too.

So Ahsoka has conquered the Star Wars fandom, and now she’s conquering streaming too. One way or the other, this character who was so despised upon her introduction a decade and a half in the past has turn into one of many solely threads of continuity which connects the prequel, unique trilogy, and sequel eras of Star Wars. And, with a brand new Star Wars film from Dave Filoni scheduled to reach within the subsequent few years, Ahsoka’s subsequent goal could be to overcome the large display. After she’s finished searching down Grand Admiral Thrawn, that’s.

For extra on Ahsoka, try our Ahsoka episode 3 recap for the most recent on the sequence. Or, see our hypothesis on the id of Inquisitor Marrok and our explainer on the Eye of Sion.

You too can find out about our favourite Star Wars villains, together with Baylan Skoll, and see what’s in retailer for the Andor season 2 launch date and The Mandalorian season 4 launch date. If that’s not sufficient, discover out extra about the most effective Star Wars film you’ve by no means seen, and study what else is new on Disney Plus this month.