By George Bate & Josh Reilly B.
Ahsoka premieres August 23 on Disney+ and will seemingly continue character arcs and plot threads that date back to The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, The Mandalorian, and other Star Wars stories. Here’s a breakdown of our recommended watches to prepare for the highly anticipated Ahsoka series this summer.
Tales of the Jedi – Season 1, Episode 1: Life and Death
Chronologically, this short episode is the earliest tale in Ahsoka’s story. The episode follows a baby Ahsoka before she is recruited into the Jedi Order, and also provides some insights into her upbringing, family, and culture. “Life and Death” is an understated, slow-burn piece of Star Wars storytelling and one that is a perfect introduction to the character Ahsoka Tano.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (film)
Ahsoka’s chronological debut is also necessary viewing ahead of the debut of her solo series. The Clone Wars movie was met with mixed reception upon release, but, over the years, fans have begun to appreciate its importance in introducing both Ahsoka Tano and Captain Rex to Star Wars. The film depicts a seminal event in Ahsoka’s life as she becomes Anakin Skywalker’s apprentice and shows a more youthful version of the character, which provides a nice point of comparison to her more mature state in subsequent stories.
The Clone Wars – Season 5, Episode 20: The Wrong Jedi
One of The Clone Wars’ most poignant arcs concludes with “The Wrong Jedi.” In this arc, Ahsoka has been framed for bombing the Jedi Temple and undergoes a dramatic transformation as the willingness of the Jedi Order to turn their back on her leads her to leaving the Order altogether. The last few moments of this episode are fantastic and heartbreaking.
The Clone Wars – Season 7, Episodes 9-12: Siege of Mandalore
The Siege of Mandalore arc not only concludes Season 7 of The Clone Wars, but the entire series overall. The arc firmly positions Ahsoka in the center of a sprawling story that occurs concurrently with the events of Revenge of the Sith. Ahsoka’s re-introduction to Obi-Wan and Anakin is touching, while her witnessing Order 66 and the fall of the Jedi Order is so effective. This is a must-watch Star Wars story.
Tales of the Jedi – Season 1, Episode 6: Resolve
Playing an important role bridging Ahsoka’s journey from The Clone Wars to Rebels, this episode of Tales of the Jedi may not have immense storytelling purpose on the surface, but is most certainly worth a watch ahead of Ahsoka. The episode sheds light on what Ahsoka was up to after the fall of the Republic and the rise of the Empire and nicely bridges her journeys from The Clone Wars to Rebels.
Star Wars Rebels – Season 1, Episode 15: Fire Across the Galaxy
Ahsoka Tano made her triumphant return in the finale of Star Wars Rebels Season 1. Ahsoka only features in a limited capacity in this episode, but her inclusion is vital to understanding how far back her relationships with Sabine, Hera, Ezra, and company date.
Star Wars Rebels – Season 2, Episode 18: Shroud of Darkness
Ahsoka’s relationship with Anakin Skywalker is given newfound attention in this integrally important episode of Star Wars Rebels. Ahsoka confronts a vision of her former Jedi Master, which unearths long forgotten feelings and sentiments.
Star Wars Rebels – Season 2, Episodes 21-22: Twilight of the Apprentice
The best episodes of Star Wars Rebels are the two-part finale of the second season. Ahsoka teams up with Ezra and Kanan on a trip to Malachor, where they meet none other than Darth Maul. It’s in these episodes that Ahsoka comes face-to-face with her former master Anakin, now Darth Vader, for the first time since his fall to the dark side. These episodes also leave Ahsoka in a mysterious and precarious situation that is explored in a later episode of Rebels…
Star Wars Rebels – Season 4, Episode 13: A World Between Worlds
…this later episode we’re referring to is “A World Between Worlds.” The upcoming Ahsoka show seems as if it may involve the World Between Worlds somehow, so this episode is not only a great introduction to one of Star Wars’ weirder concepts, but also marks another key event in the life of Ahsoka Tano.
Star Wars Rebels – Season 4, Episodes 15-16: Family Reunion – and Farewell
If you watch any episode of Star Wars television before Ahsoka, make sure it’s the two-part series finale of Star Wars Rebels. The episodes set up what seems to be the main plot of Ahsoka, as the Jedi tries to find her lost friend Ezra Bridger after he vanished with Grand Admiral Thrawn. Ahsoka also seems to recreate the ending of this finale in live-action, providing another reason to check out these episodes ahead of time.
The Mandalorian – Season 2, Chapter 13: The Jedi
Rosario Dawson made her live-action debut as Ahsoka Tano in this excellent episode of The Mandalorian Season 2. Writer/director Dave Filoni heavily leans into Star Wars‘ samurai film influences to tell a contained story about Ahsoka teaming up with Din Djarin to save a town from an evil magistrate. This evil magistrate, Morgan Elsbeth, will reappear in Ahsoka, as revealed in the trailer for the show and Diana Lee Inosanto’s presence at Star Wars Celebration. But, more importantly, this episode reveals what is driving Ahsoka in her solo series – to find her lost friend Ezra and stop Grand Admiral Thrawn.
Ahsoka streams August 23 on Disney+. Stay tuned to The HoloFiles and Star Wars Holocron for more coverage!