Written by Amanda Clark
The hope that the entire season of Ahsoka will be the best Disney+ Star Wars show was set high with the first two episodes, “Part One: Master and Apprentice” and “Part Two: Toil and Trouble.” Ahsoka Episode 3, “Part Three: Time to Fly,” only lives up to the standard that the first two episodes delivered to fans.
Viewers further see the dynamic between Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson, Daredevil) and Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo) blossoming into the Padawan and master role — correction, apprentice and master role, seeing how even though everyone in the show calls her a Jedi still, Ahsoka herself doesn’t consider herself to be one. Hopefully, at some point in the next couple of episodes, Ahsoka will say her “I am no Jedi” line that sent shock waves down fans during an epic duel she took part in in Star Wars Rebels.
Another part in this episode that adds to the magnitude of why this show is rising through the ranks is seeing Ahsoka’s lighter side shine through again. Star Wars fans haven’t completely seen the side of Ahsoka where she smiles and makes a joke in the live-action format (minus a fleeting moment in Book of Boba Fett) has just been extremely serious and more like a stern Qui-Gon Jinn. Not to say that this new version of her has gone away because it hasn’t, but there is a moment in the episode where it’s not all gloomy.
It seems like as the series continues there might just be a few more moments to come where wider audiences will see the Ahsoka those who grew up with Star Wars: The Clone Wars will peak through. But with everything she has gone through and the possibility of Grand Admiral Thrawn returning to destroy The New Republic, the latter points to her more serious side pulling through.
The singular story of preventing the return of Grand Admiral Thrawn (along with the hope that Ezra Bridger will be found) without any subplots around for distraction is just another reason in the long list of reasons why Ahsoka is just that good. Too often, shows feel the need to bring in a second or third plot that starts off minor but then outshines or seriously distracts from what should be the main plot.
However, with Ahsoka Episode 3 there’s one storyline with one subplot — Ahsoka training Sabine in the ways of The Force to help prevent the return of Thrawn and how the newly discovered starship the “Eye of Sion” and its hyperspace engines are being used to facilitate his return. There’s no new characters for viewers to become attached. There’s no side trip to another adventures. It’s this one story and this only enhances how brilliant the writers are.
On top of what is continued in episode 3, Inquisitor Marrok gets some more screen time. He doesn’t seem to be all that powerful compared to his supposed version from the video game The Force Unleashed. This game isn’t canon to the Star Wars movies and shows, so it would be interesting to see if the Marrok in Ahsoka is anything like the one in the video game, especially since Sam Witwer voices him in the game and is credited for some voices in Ahsoka.
Ahsoka Episode 3 also reveals more Purrgil Space Whales that could possibly help or hinder her plan. Seeing these creatures in live action is still astonishing, especially since it has led viewers to believe that they could hold a larger role in the show than just a minor appearance like in The Mandalorian. Getting to see these Purrgils some more would be a win in any book.
Sabine and Ahsoka use the Purrgils to help them in this episode, and the interaction between the two adds depth to the show. Ahsoka trying to help Sabine use the force goes against Star Wars Rebels as Ezra (voiced by Taylor Gray) and Kanan Jarrus (voiced by Freddie Prinze Jr.) tried to instruct Sabine on how to use a lightsaber even though she isn’t force sensitive. But Ahsoka basically says in this episode that everything has the force running through them, it just depends on how determined they are.
Nonetheless, it’s a great change in events as it puts Ahsoka in the master role, and fans get to see how she handles her apprentice — some could say Sabine is more stubborn than Ahsoka was.
“Part Three: Time to Fly” only made the show better, and now the hope is that Episode 4 will keep up where Episode 3 left off in the sense of quality.
