‘Ahsoka’ Recap – ‘Part Four: Fallen Jedi’ – Nerds That Geek

‘Ahsoka’ Recap – ‘Part Four: Fallen Jedi’

9/6/2023

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Four of ‘Ahsoka’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. Also, 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.

One particular trope that has outlived its usefulness in television and cinema, is the decision to sacrifice something important, or someone, in the name of the greater good. Simply because, such a decision no longer resonates with audiences. For we live in a different time, where people understand the complexity of the human condition. So, to see that decision in film or T.V. is off-putting now and confusing because it is so black and white and so absolute in nature. However, slowly but surely, we are starting to see that change. For creatives are coming to understand that audiences are quite curious about how we resolve the reality that we won’t make those sacrifices when they present themselves to us and it just so happens… that a grand franchise is going to lead the way in such matters.

For this week’s episode of Ahsoka set the stage for a supremely realistic look at such a decision… but not before ‘Part Four: Fallen Jedi’ offered up some epic action and adventure. For while Huyang completed repairs on the ship, Skoll’s forces attacked our heroes. Prompting them to kick off a counter-offensive and that brought forth something we all love about this franchise… lightsaber battles. Great ones for that matter as well, the kind where Sabine was able to best Sati through innovation and brute force since she wasn’t as skilled in the lightsaber arts yet, and where Ahsoka was able to drop Morrow decidedly. Which in turn allowed for her to face off against Skoll in a lightsaber duel for the ages. One that saw two powerful force wielders reach a stalemate often in a fight to secure their wishes regarding Thrawn and had Ahsoka not been wounded, by the map no less, she might have bested this powerful fallen Jedi.

But alas, that was not the case and her defeat led to the powerful and refreshing exploration in question. Because Sabine arrived just as Skoll gained the upper hand, but not before she got her hands on the map, safely, and had the option to end this mess before it could escalate any further. And all she had to do… was sacrifice Ezra for all time. For the greater good no less. But as Skoll correctly pointed out, that was no easy call. Not for someone that meant the world to her and was in essence… all that she had left in the galaxy from a family standpoint. Which put her in a tough place for certain… wherein she made the call that would have been unheard of not that long ago in television. In that, she surrendered the map and herself to Skoll. Because of what Ezra meant to her, and how badly she needed to see him and be near him again and that… led to victory for the villains of this tale.

For Lady Ahsoka Tano was defeated and seemingly gone, and the hyperspace gateway was complete and locked into where Grand Admiral Thrawn was hiding and all those eager to support him were able to make their way to his destination. Despite the fact that a rogue New Republic fleet arrived in orbit, one that suffered major losses in the wake of that massive jump. But what mattered more here, is that this story did a magnificent job of tossing that old trope to the side by pointing out how difficult it is for people to sacrifice in the name of something greater. For there are people in our lives and things that bring us meaning and joy that would devastate us if we let them go. So, we hang onto that, and deal with what comes next accordingly, and that is precisely what awaits this story in the weeks to come, and it was great to see this show really dive into how tough a decision this can be.

However, while that was quite the powerful way to end this story, we would be remiss to not discuss… the final couple of minutes before everything faded to black since that brought forth some amazing moments as well. Since we came to learn that Lady Tano did not perish in the battle, but somehow found her way back to the World Between Worlds and waiting there for her… was none other than Anakin Skywalker himself. A cameo that sets the stage for one incredible conversation between this duo come next week and one that gives the fans something they’ve been craving in live action for ages, and well… all of these elements brough forth one incredible story. One grounded in emotion and action and adventure and the best parts of the franchise and this is one, that absolutely will have each of us counting down the minutes until next week’s entry. To see what Ahsoka and Anakin have to say to one another after all this time, and to likely enjoy the live action introduction of one Grand Admiral Thrawn, since his minions are on their way to greet him. Until next time.

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