Between Hayden Christensen's appearance in the Kenobi series playing Vader (complete with James Earl Jones' voice), and his channeling Matt Lanter here, I can finally see the throughline between every version of the character.
I struggled for a long time with seeing the live action vs animated characters as the same people. It was this episode that did it for Anakin and episode 7 did it for Ahsoka
I never had the problem with seeing both Anakin's as the same, but Vader definitely. Kenobi's finale and this episode definitely allowed me to see Anakin and Vader as one in the same. It's not a switch that gets turned. It's not a separate personality as some would have you believe. Vader is nothing more than Anakin in a life support suit. The only other difference being, Vader had forgotten the lesson Anakin teaches Ahsoka here.
Props to Hayden for his due diligence. He truly embodied all factors of Anakin in one episode. First a force ghost someone at peace with a greater understanding of things. As early clone wars General Skywalker with a young vibrancy and swag. And as Darth Vader to show that Vader was more than the mask and Sith title Vader it is a part of Anakin his dark impulses that he finally learned control.
Pardon the pun, the Filoni version of Anakin is way more "animated" or lively than the George Lucas directing of Hayden. Good to see Hayden playing Clone Wars Anakin.
Getting Hayden back for Obi-Wan Kenobi was cool, but this was where he was meant to be. Everything in his performance shows him evolving from the prequels while also acknowledging and honoring what the Clone Wars added. He finds a perfect medium between the two. This is peak Anakin for me.
Ahsoka telling Huyang that she isn't sure where the purrgil are going but "it's better than going nowhere" is totally something Anakin would do and say. To be honest, it's something she would have done during TCW, but lost that part of herself.
Filoni is a hack who can't write stories without using nostalgia bait as crutches, or bringing characters who died because he can't make original content.
I love it. You absolutely did "pick up what they were putting down". What Ahsoka needed to move on and live was to let go of her fear of becoming or passing on what Anakin became. As you noted, that fear colored her decisions involving Grogu and Sabine, preventing her from moving forward. Her wardrobe changes were significant as well. Previously her robes were dark and gray, signifying her inner fears. Now they are white, reflecting her new outlook. Dave Filoni has long compared Ahsoka to Gandalf, so Ahsoka's fall against Baylan and return can be seen as akin to Gandalf the Grey's fall at Khazadum against the Balrog and his return as Gandalf the White.
Honestly, this was my favourite non animated anything since the Disney acquisition, those scenes in the clone wars, the idea of wanting to live rather than just no dying was fantastic.
Don't know if you caught it or if anyone has mentioned it but when Hera and Jacen are listening for the lightsabers, the Force theme plays, but with another melody mixed in: Kanan's theme
"You look the same." "You look old." Mirror's Ahsoka and Rex's dialogue from Rebels. Ahsoka's spin kick to Anakin's head? Same move she used on Maul in Season 7 of the Clone Wars. "I won't fight you." "I've heard that before." Mirror's Luke and Vader's dialogue from Return of the Jedi.
The point of the lesson was to teach Ahsoka she was not doomed to fall to the dark side as her master Anakin, that she could make her own choices. Loved it.
Honestly, this episode was so layered that I've seen multiple interpretations of it, each one as genuinely insightful and valid as the others. Is it about legacy? Forgiving oneself? Living with choices and their consequences? Fighting no matter what? Could be any - or even all - of them.
@@markgundle4150I saw it as Anakin teaching Ahsoka that 1 his fall wasn't her fault(something she'd been second guessing since the Lothal trip just before Malachor). That she needed to chose to live her life instead of just existing (typically he used his...hard edged teaching methods). And to impart the lesson he'd failed to learn from the Grand Master "train yourself to let go, of everything you fear to lose ". And the lesson worked as she is DEFINITELY more herself (early CW Ahsoka vs Siege of Mandalore)
"Hi, big fan, friend of Ezra's" 🤣🤣🤣 You are in my top five of Star Wars reactors. Your insight and commentary about what Ahsoka was going through up to this point is THE most mature analysis I've seen. I kept wondering why certain "fans" expected this 40+ year old war vet that was also a genocide survivor to act like her teenage self, like bffr. Thank you again for this, I look forward to more of your reactions.
I think you’re right, she’s undergone massive trauma and also the guilt of what Anakin did without her there to stop him directly or to prevent his fall, also possible survivors guilt and self blame for it. All the while wondering whether she would turn to the dark side too, I mean, if the 4 most recent generations of her masters, 2 had turned to the dark side. And of course, fear is the path to the dark side, which is the reason why she refused to train Grogu and stopped training Sabine, fear of her own ability to help overcome their darkness. That’s what Kanan had to accept with training Ezra, but with less baggage. But I understand that people wanted Ashoka to be Ashoka and not a different person, despite what she’d been through, which is how it felt sometimes and obviously going from animation to live action it was already plenty different
This was about Ahsoka dealing with the doubt and fear she had about turning out like Vader or makeing the next Vader. Learning that while Anakin was a part of her training she's the one who choses what to use
SO glad you’ve seen this. i feel like I've been waiting forever for you to get to THIS episode. An episode which I, and many others consider to be one of the greatest moments in SW history. Loved your reaction. This series is fantastic and I’m glad you’re sharing your reactions with us. 👍🏻🤟🏻👊🏻😎
I really loved Jacen's part in this show. Not only just showing us he's there, with Hera, but giving him this part, where he helps direct the search for Ahsoka, because of his Force Sensitivity, and it being reason to mention Kanan. I also love the idea that the Destroyer of Worlds is his protector. He has the best babysitter in Chopper.
I think the flashes of Vader were ideal. It was all Anakin, but those flashes were just "Don't forget". I also think it was like, the spirit guiding Ahsoka through this spirit quest is Anakin who is post-Vader. He lived that. He spent half his life as Vader, and came back to the Light before he died, so now, as a Force Spirit, he controls it, and can use it in this training. I also think we got canon "Suitless Vader" (something that pops up in fanfic on occasion).
Hayden in Ahsoka: top notch CGI and compositing / Hayden in Obi-Wan “maybe we can de-age him with costume, hair and makeup” 😂 I loved your thoughtful end comments. One thing from during the episode (at least how I see it): Showing flashes of Vader during the time of the Clone Wars was not rude. It was compassionate, and vital for Ahsoka’s healing. She was stuck in the grief (bargaining) of “maybe if I hadn’t walked away, he wouldn’t have turned,” which itself was being held together by denial that Anakin was capable of being Vader on his own. Subtle notes in their conversation made it clear that she could not keep him on a pedestal, or keep the Anakin and Vader identities separate. She had to accept him as a whole person, darkness and all. The red saber, helmet, and caped silhouette are visual manifestations of that idea as well. Anakin definitely was capable of becoming Vader, long before she met him. She can release the guilt she was carrying about her choices, finally knowing through that painful truth that she was not responsible for Anakin’s fall.
You're not wrong. I'd also add it was her "present self" recognizing how close he was as far back as Ryloth. And I think that is why she specifically says during her talk with him during the siege of Mandalore that "he was more powerful than anybody had considered and also more dangerous" alluding to the fact that it wasn't long after Mandalore that he actually fell. Since we know from watching The Siege of Mandalore itself that she was warned that that's what could happen but in her arrogance she thought that it would be absolutely impossible that kind of arrogance which stuck with her until her Revelation at the Lothal Jedi Temple. Cuz remember there were definitely seeds that Ahsoka had a feeling about Anakin as far back as when they were on mortis. Because there was that Vision that she received where she was warned that if she stayed as Anakin's Apprentice she would be lost to Darkness now I don't know if that was the sun attempting to turn her or that was her own fears while they were on mortise all I know is that she had doubts at least as far back as that Arc. Which I would say is a credit to Dave and the other writers on this show as well as going as far back as the early seasons of Clone Wars because these threads are there
I’m reminded of the beginning of your Star Wars reactions when you started The Mandalorian, and just what a journey it has been for you from then to now. I thank you for how wonderful your Star Wars reactions have been, especially every single moment of this BEAUTIFUL reaction to this glorious episode of Ahsoka. It was incredibly emotional and lovely to see, Jess.
Omg this episode gave me so many chills! What a delight! And so emotional. I was in awe when I first warched it. I love your interpretation of the lesson Anakin was trying to teach Ahsoka. I had a bit of trouble understanding it when I first watched it, but you explained it perfectly.
The thing I love about this episode the most is that it's not really Anakin finishing Ahsoka's training, so much as it is Anakin correcting the mistakes he made in his teaching. Anakin's "live or die" mentality that he tried to instill in his pupil was flawed because he equated living with fighting. He spent his whole life fighting: fighting to gain freedom, fighting to give freedom to others, fighting both the Sith and the Jedi, and fighting to stop his worst fears from coming true. Which only made those visions and fears inevitable. Palpatine may have dug his claws into and corrupted Anakain through their "friendship", but ultimately it was Anakin who sealed his own fate. That black and white viewpoint is what created Vader. He's teaching Ahsoka not only to stop lingering in the shadow of his complicated and dark legacy, but also to stop treating life as a constant battle. To not end up as fearful and bitter as him. Ahoska has spent most of her life post-Order 66 clouded by the fear and trauma of what Anakin became. She's fearful of training Grogu and Sabine, of continuing the legacy of her master, and fears just allowing herself to be a Jedi and a hero. But, now that Anakin gave her this final lesson and catharsis, she has a renewed sense of hope and a stronger connection to the Force and her purpose. Rosario did such a great job portraying the contrast between the battle-weary and fearful Ahsoka, and this new "Ahsoka the White" that has so much light and life in her eyes.
Watching this on Valentine's Day and what a lovely gift this reaction was! Knowing you already took the time to see see Clone Wars and Rebels (and knowing how much all those stories and characters meant to you) meant you'd get the full pay-off from this episode. I love watching reactors who care about the characters and get the deeper details about them and pull from the episodes the things that make me love these shows. I really love watching your reactions and so once again, thank you for sharing this one and have a wonderful Valentine's Day!
So first to answer your question, there was a little deaging in episode 5 of Kenobi(but not....substantial). They did more work here because it was more than his flashback scenes in Kenobi. Ever since we knew this series was coming while you were watching Rebels, we've been waiting for your reaction to this episode. For one it was because this episode aired on the 15th anniversary of the CW movie. As such when Anakin took Ahsoka into her memories, a good number of us believe that was the mission to Teth(the planet where they rescued Jabb's son Rota from). From there we all pretty much agree the second flashback was the Ryloth Campaign (when Ahsoka lost a wing of fighters). And of course ended with thr Siege of Mandalore from season 7(WE GOT REX IN LIVE ACTION). On the Hera side of the story we got to see Jacen is his father's son. And we got some nice interaction between Hera and Huyang (Carson and his reaction to Jacen being Force sensitive ALWAYS gets a laugh). Your insight serves you well m'lady. Your understanding of what Anakin was teaching is pretty much how most of us who loved this episode have understood. And I just wanna add that you can tell Hayden watched CW as he was DEFINITELY channeling Matt. Also Hayden is still a BEAST with the lightsaber choreography. I did also love the little callback to that First episode of Tales of the Jedi with Ahsoka contacting the Purgill
This episode. Easily Top 5 live action Star Wars TV episodes for me. - Huge feeling of validation/vindication seeing Ahsoka and Anakin in their Clone Wars gear in live action. - First time ever seeing a physical costume for Phase 1 clone trooper armor. In Attack of the Clones it was all digital. - Rex appearing in live action and performed by Temuera Morrison was a big item on my Star Wars wish list and I'm so happy I can check it off! Now all I need is a story where Rex interacts with Luke & Leia... - That shot of Anakin walking away from Ahsoka and his silhouette becoming Vader's
Anakin = Father of Mortis Ahsoka = daughter of Mortis Hayden, got de aged but for a guy, who’s like 43 this year (42 at the time) I really don’t think he’s aged a day. Hayden, taking on the daunting task of playing the character of Anakin as he played him in 2005 and how Matt Lanter played him from 2008-2013; 2020 was really cool to take all of the character of Anakin on in both variants. I didn’t know this until recently, but like Hayden actually wanted to get the role of Anakin in TCW, that’s insane to me and at the same time I really would’ve been all for it if Lucasfilm had the money and agreements could be made. Seeing Hayden, looking like how Anakin looked in TCW S1-2 was like one of the coolest things, ever just to see the armour, and his hair was slightly shorter. In Dave Filoni we trust
I never realized that I needed closure between Ash and Ani. This episode brought me back to the Clone Wars movie where Yoda called it. "Ready he is, to teach an apprentice. To let go of his pupil, a greater challenge this will be."
I like your comments on her need to keep fighting What I think after multiple watching was Ahsoka was held back by fear, ever since she learned who Vader really was, fear that she was in an inevitable path not necessarily to the dark side but soaked in blood as a warrior, and that would be all she had to offer to Grogu or Sabine And what Anakin wanted to teach her as a final lesson was that every master passes on their accumulated wisdom and ability to reach of their successive padowan, like branches in an eternal tree, with potential for both good and bad, but there is still a choice and not a curse... That she was not doomed and had no need to fear her future, as an individual or as a mentor, to choose life and return to the world (whether inspired by Tolkein or particularly CS Lewis / Narnia influence on the whole series) with that burden lifted from her shoulders
Her whole life, from the moment Ahsoka was thrust into war as a child up until this point, Ahsoka has been surviving. Anakin showed up to give her "one... last lesson" (as Ezra said of Kanan after his own experience in the World Between Worlds), and that lesson is not to survive, but to *live.* Truth be told, I always found Rosario Dawson's Ahsoka to be a little stiff and wooden, which I thought was a shame since they weren't fully utilising Dawson's excellent acting talent. But then in this episode, after her lesson with Anakin, she opens up so much and seems full of warmth and life again, like the Ahsoka we knew during Clone Wars and Rebels. She found that spark again. Having seen this episode, them having written it this way makes a lot more sense to me, and I kind of love it as an arc for her. The jaded, tired, survival-mode Ahsoka learning to let go of all she's endured and become the Jedi she was always meant to be is wonderful. That scene with Jacen and Hera hearing the lightsabers clashing amidst the waves crashing gives me so many chills. Pure magic.
Jedi are _encouraged_ to love. Anakin himself explains it in Ep 2. The danger is the Fear that can come from love. Attachment means _Fear of Loss._ Jedi get their Strength from Love.
In rebals Ashoka explains how much her master cared for his friends, and then Anikin’s claim in Episode II to stop people from dying, he to a certain extent keeps fulfilling that promise with Ashoka threw the crazy training he put her threw in tales of the Jedi to survive order 66 and now to bring her back in balance with herself and the force to emerge as Ashoka “the white”. Such a great episode and was really looking forward to this reaction and you didn’t disappoint thank you for sharing it with us 👏🏽🫶🏽 And there’s still more to come haha
I always love your reactions. :) I think that the lesson that Anakin was there to teach her was 3 fold: 1.) That just because she was part of that Legacy of Master/Padawan that lead to Anakin's Fate, that she was not bound by it and could make her own way (if that makes sense); 2.) As you said, she was a lot more bubbly and "free spirited" when she was younger and had become, not just more reserved, but was basically just surviving and letting the past rule her present. She was not living in the moment or really looking to the future (at least as far as her own life goes); 3.) After losing the fight with Baylan and getting thrown off the cliff into the water, she could have drowned and died if she had given up and stopped fighting. Anakin's lesson was that she needed to decide to live, not just survive, and by doing so, she found the strength to hang on until they found her in the water.
The phenomenal performance of Hayden. Obi-wan has always been my favourite Jedi, but Anakin has officially become my favourite CHARACTER. The way he slips in and out of Vader's terrifying aura and Anakin's wholesome child-like aura, is so, perfect? I dont really have words for it. I have always felt and will always feel terrified of Vader, but I LOVE Anakin, his story is so tragic and there's so much more I wish for him. The fact that in a matter of seconds I can feel both those feelings, shows how great the writing is. I've always appreciated good story-writing, not the CGI. I've always been more of a prequels lover, but I always loved all 6.
It took this long to get us to the end of Filoni's shorthard postscript at the end of Rebels. All the pieces are in place ... Hera, Jacen and Chopper... Sabine with shorn hair in Mandalorian armor....and Ahsoka the Grey has become Ahsoka the White.
@sesskasays, 20:22 Ahsoka was Anakin's Anchor; she carried the torch that Padme no longer could. Padme had Anakin's heart, but Ahsoka was tethered to his soul, and when he lost Ahsoka, he lost himself. It took 19 years in darkness for him to find a glimmer of hope, and it took him another two years to take a leap of faith, guided by the love of his son, Luke.
I have a strong feeling Anakin Skywalker didn't just show up to balance out Ahsoka, he's playing 4D Chess with Abeloth. Spoilers, Because Anakin decided not to stay on Mortis during the clone wars, and the absence of the Father for the first time in recorded history, Abeloth grew in power and influenced Baylan and maybe other people to free her. The way i see it, now Anakin is doing his job at maintaining balance in the force not as a Jedi or Sith but the Chosen one. It was about 30 years between The Fathers death in the clone wars and Anakins death in ROTJ. Assuming he is The Father now, he missed out on 3 decades. And I think the role of the Father is intertwined with the Daughter and the Son. In the last episode, hence spoilers, the statue of the Daughter was erased. I think this reflects Anakin's special training with Ahsoka. The Son could have survived because the balance of the force had shifted in favour to the dark side. I think its possible we could see Sam Witwer play a live action Son, and Anakin is training her to balance out the dark side. I think there needs to be 3 One again. If Abeloth, the Mother, has turned the Son from his role in contributing to balance, they would need to balance this out. When equilibrium is restored through The Father, Son and Daughter again, they can defeat abeloth. And something tells me Abeloth could have something to do with somehow Palpatine has returned
I just found your channel today and this reaction video has all of the things that make SW fandom great. I look forward to going through your previous videos. Keep up the awesome work!
See when the show first came out people complained at the start about Ahsoka seemingly really cold and detached. And I always loved how that was true to an extent, but it changes after this episode and she lets loose a bit. Because shes got closure on Anakin, since the last we saw her in depth before now was the duel and we had no clue how she was impacted by it
From Yoda, to Dooku, to Qui-Gon Jinn, to Obi-Wan Kenobi, to Anakin Skywalker, to Ahsoka Tano, to Sabine Wren....... 11:20 - Anakin, now "one with The Force", his experiences in life balanced between the Light and the Dark (consider how many years in each that he lived), is now capable of controlling both. Because Ahsoka was so guilt ridden over Anakin's turn to the Dark Side, he needed to channel it in order for her to realize that turning to the Dark Side was his destiny all along. That, he NEEDED to become a Sith, in order to become the true Master of The Force that he has. She realizes now that it was not her leaving the Jedi Order that caused his turn... even if she had stayed his Padawan, nothing would have changed for Anakin. "All is, as The Force wills it."
It took Anakin 3 tries, but he finally achieved his life's goal. He couldn't save his mother. He couldn't save Padme. He saved Ahsoka. "He had such a knowledge of the force. He could even save those he cared about from dying." - Revenge of the Sith.
Thanks for this great video. i live alone, well with my cat who is the boss and knows it, and its my birthday today, a big one too, so this made my day. thanks again you are awesome. an whales, what more could i ask for.
Not gonna lie to you, but your analyzes about Anakin's lesson was so good that made me feel dumb for mine. It makes so much sense and I loved it. I love your after thoughts and I'm incredibly glad you decided to watch and react to Star Wars in your channel, you are sooooooo damn brilliant! Keep up the good work, honestly.
Clone Wars tried to give Anakin that redemption path the movies didn't. It may have even over done it a bit with the characters to give people more sympathy for him and a feeling that Vader is a separate thing. However I think in trying to show the complexity this episode did something I think good for the story of Anakin Skywalker. He did have something left to teach Ahsoka. It was a choice of life but to be honest it was a choice of two roads. Either choose life and follow the path that Anakin did and become something horrible or choose the Walt Whitman path of The Road Not Taken. The hard road for Ahsoka was to choose life but not take the easy path to darkness. Take the hard path that honestly leads you into the unknown and the new.
This episode proves that the issues of Hayden playing Anakin wasn't Hayden. Given a good script and a good director, the prequels could have extraordinary storytelling. And Hayden is giving a master class in subtle acting. Even without VFX changing his eyes to and from Sith red, you can see what part of his journey he is on by the way Hayden holds his body, sets his face, and his voice. Especially the moment Hayden drops his face as Vader and raises it again as Anakin.
O meu episódio favorito. Sempre adorei a dinâmica Anakin/Vader. E gosto da teoria de ele agora ser o "Pai" e da teoria de que Grogu quando viu os purrgils, Ahsoka já estava com eles e que Grogu sentiu Ahsoka e não necessariamente os purrgils.
The lesson was that Ashoka had to move on from the guilt she was feeling at leaving Anakin and the Jedi order behind. She felt somewhat responsible for Anakin turning to the dark side.
9:12 My favorite moment for some reason. Seeing how Ahsoka must have copied her stance from Anakin gives me the feels. It's like, she does it all the time, and you never think about why until this moment.
I don't think Ahsoka deserved the amount of hate it got, I consider it bad timing due to today's issues. That's twice this character fell into the negative for some. To me this was everything I asked for, and your reactions will forever be with me through this character ⚘️
This was a strong turning point in the show for me. I was enjoying it before this, but almost in spite of itself. I saw what they were trying to do with Ahsoka, but the direction/writing just didn't work. Instead of showing how conflicted/depressed she was, it just felt slow and boring. But there was still good character stuff sprinkled throughout. From this point though, you can see they let Rosario have a bit more fun as the character and the show itself reflects that. The tone and pace of the direction really picks up also so it is just a more interesting show to watch from here.
Between Hayden Christensen's appearance in the Kenobi series playing Vader (complete with James Earl Jones' voice), and his channeling Matt Lanter here, I can finally see the throughline between every version of the character.
I struggled for a long time with seeing the live action vs animated characters as the same people. It was this episode that did it for Anakin and episode 7 did it for Ahsoka
I never had the problem with seeing both Anakin's as the same, but Vader definitely. Kenobi's finale and this episode definitely allowed me to see Anakin and Vader as one in the same. It's not a switch that gets turned. It's not a separate personality as some would have you believe. Vader is nothing more than Anakin in a life support suit. The only other difference being, Vader had forgotten the lesson Anakin teaches Ahsoka here.
Props to Hayden for his due diligence. He truly embodied all factors of Anakin in one episode. First a force ghost someone at peace with a greater understanding of things. As early clone wars General Skywalker with a young vibrancy and swag. And as Darth Vader to show that Vader was more than the mask and Sith title Vader it is a part of Anakin his dark impulses that he finally learned control.
Pardon the pun, the Filoni version of Anakin is way more "animated" or lively than the George Lucas directing of Hayden. Good to see Hayden playing Clone Wars Anakin.
Very well said OP
Getting Hayden back for Obi-Wan Kenobi was cool, but this was where he was meant to be. Everything in his performance shows him evolving from the prequels while also acknowledging and honoring what the Clone Wars added. He finds a perfect medium between the two. This is peak Anakin for me.
Ahsoka telling Huyang that she isn't sure where the purrgil are going but "it's better than going nowhere" is totally something Anakin would do and say. To be honest, it's something she would have done during TCW, but lost that part of herself.
Dave Filoni gets what Star Wars is supposed to feel like. Ahsoka is officially a Jedi now that she finished her final lesson.
Filoni is a hack who can't write stories without using nostalgia bait as crutches, or bringing characters who died because he can't make original content.
He’s mid
@@looneyluna96Good to hear from you fake fans all the time. The day isn't complete without some basement dweller tears.
@lucasluna1699 you must be fun at parties.
Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau get it.
I love it. You absolutely did "pick up what they were putting down". What Ahsoka needed to move on and live was to let go of her fear of becoming or passing on what Anakin became. As you noted, that fear colored her decisions involving Grogu and Sabine, preventing her from moving forward.
Her wardrobe changes were significant as well. Previously her robes were dark and gray, signifying her inner fears. Now they are white, reflecting her new outlook. Dave Filoni has long compared Ahsoka to Gandalf, so Ahsoka's fall against Baylan and return can be seen as akin to Gandalf the Grey's fall at Khazadum against the Balrog and his return as Gandalf the White.
Agreed 💯
Honestly, this was my favourite non animated anything since the Disney acquisition, those scenes in the clone wars, the idea of wanting to live rather than just no dying was fantastic.
I like to imagine Kanan’s watching his wife and son from a far as a force ghost during that moment saying “well done son I’m proud of you” 🥹🥹❤️
Don't know if you caught it or if anyone has mentioned it but when Hera and Jacen are listening for the lightsabers, the Force theme plays, but with another melody mixed in: Kanan's theme
"You look the same."
"You look old."
Mirror's Ahsoka and Rex's dialogue from Rebels.
Ahsoka's spin kick to Anakin's head? Same move she used on Maul in Season 7 of the Clone Wars.
"I won't fight you."
"I've heard that before."
Mirror's Luke and Vader's dialogue from Return of the Jedi.
The point of the lesson was to teach Ahsoka she was not doomed to fall to the dark side as her master Anakin, that she could make her own choices. Loved it.
Honestly, this episode was so layered that I've seen multiple interpretations of it, each one as genuinely insightful and valid as the others. Is it about legacy? Forgiving oneself? Living with choices and their consequences? Fighting no matter what? Could be any - or even all - of them.
@@markgundle4150I saw it as Anakin teaching Ahsoka that 1 his fall wasn't her fault(something she'd been second guessing since the Lothal trip just before Malachor). That she needed to chose to live her life instead of just existing (typically he used his...hard edged teaching methods). And to impart the lesson he'd failed to learn from the Grand Master "train yourself to let go, of everything you fear to lose ". And the lesson worked as she is DEFINITELY more herself (early CW Ahsoka vs Siege of Mandalore)
Awesome reaction! It's great to see Ahsoka being her playful self again, the weight lifted, all confident in The Force!
The whole episode builds up to Hera saying ‘May the Force be with you’. Tears every time 😢
"Hi, big fan, friend of Ezra's" 🤣🤣🤣 You are in my top five of Star Wars reactors. Your insight and commentary about what Ahsoka was going through up to this point is THE most mature analysis I've seen. I kept wondering why certain "fans" expected this 40+ year old war vet that was also a genocide survivor to act like her teenage self, like bffr. Thank you again for this, I look forward to more of your reactions.
I think you’re right, she’s undergone massive trauma and also the guilt of what Anakin did without her there to stop him directly or to prevent his fall, also possible survivors guilt and self blame for it. All the while wondering whether she would turn to the dark side too, I mean, if the 4 most recent generations of her masters, 2 had turned to the dark side. And of course, fear is the path to the dark side, which is the reason why she refused to train Grogu and stopped training Sabine, fear of her own ability to help overcome their darkness. That’s what Kanan had to accept with training Ezra, but with less baggage. But I understand that people wanted Ashoka to be Ashoka and not a different person, despite what she’d been through, which is how it felt sometimes and obviously going from animation to live action it was already plenty different
"I've heard that before." Many people think it's Ahsoka back on Malachor, but he's actually referring to Luke.
This was about Ahsoka dealing with the doubt and fear she had about turning out like Vader or makeing the next Vader. Learning that while Anakin was a part of her training she's the one who choses what to use
SO glad you’ve seen this. i feel like I've been waiting forever for you to get to THIS episode. An episode which I, and many others consider to be one of the greatest moments in SW history. Loved your reaction. This series is fantastic and I’m glad you’re sharing your reactions with us. 👍🏻🤟🏻👊🏻😎
I really loved Jacen's part in this show. Not only just showing us he's there, with Hera, but giving him this part, where he helps direct the search for Ahsoka, because of his Force Sensitivity, and it being reason to mention Kanan. I also love the idea that the Destroyer of Worlds is his protector. He has the best babysitter in Chopper.
I think the flashes of Vader were ideal. It was all Anakin, but those flashes were just "Don't forget".
I also think it was like, the spirit guiding Ahsoka through this spirit quest is Anakin who is post-Vader. He lived that. He spent half his life as Vader, and came back to the Light before he died, so now, as a Force Spirit, he controls it, and can use it in this training.
I also think we got canon "Suitless Vader" (something that pops up in fanfic on occasion).
Hayden in Ahsoka: top notch CGI and compositing / Hayden in Obi-Wan “maybe we can de-age him with costume, hair and makeup” 😂
I loved your thoughtful end comments. One thing from during the episode (at least how I see it): Showing flashes of Vader during the time of the Clone Wars was not rude. It was compassionate, and vital for Ahsoka’s healing. She was stuck in the grief (bargaining) of “maybe if I hadn’t walked away, he wouldn’t have turned,” which itself was being held together by denial that Anakin was capable of being Vader on his own. Subtle notes in their conversation made it clear that she could not keep him on a pedestal, or keep the Anakin and Vader identities separate. She had to accept him as a whole person, darkness and all. The red saber, helmet, and caped silhouette are visual manifestations of that idea as well. Anakin definitely was capable of becoming Vader, long before she met him. She can release the guilt she was carrying about her choices, finally knowing through that painful truth that she was not responsible for Anakin’s fall.
You're not wrong. I'd also add it was her "present self" recognizing how close he was as far back as Ryloth. And I think that is why she specifically says during her talk with him during the siege of Mandalore that "he was more powerful than anybody had considered and also more dangerous" alluding to the fact that it wasn't long after Mandalore that he actually fell. Since we know from watching The Siege of Mandalore itself that she was warned that that's what could happen but in her arrogance she thought that it would be absolutely impossible that kind of arrogance which stuck with her until her Revelation at the Lothal Jedi Temple. Cuz remember there were definitely seeds that Ahsoka had a feeling about Anakin as far back as when they were on mortis. Because there was that Vision that she received where she was warned that if she stayed as Anakin's Apprentice she would be lost to Darkness now I don't know if that was the sun attempting to turn her or that was her own fears while they were on mortise all I know is that she had doubts at least as far back as that Arc. Which I would say is a credit to Dave and the other writers on this show as well as going as far back as the early seasons of Clone Wars because these threads are there
I’m reminded of the beginning of your Star Wars reactions when you started The Mandalorian, and just what a journey it has been for you from then to now. I thank you for how wonderful your Star Wars reactions have been, especially every single moment of this BEAUTIFUL reaction to this glorious episode of Ahsoka. It was incredibly emotional and lovely to see, Jess.
Omg this episode gave me so many chills! What a delight! And so emotional. I was in awe when I first warched it. I love your interpretation of the lesson Anakin was trying to teach Ahsoka. I had a bit of trouble understanding it when I first watched it, but you explained it perfectly.
The thing I love about this episode the most is that it's not really Anakin finishing Ahsoka's training, so much as it is Anakin correcting the mistakes he made in his teaching. Anakin's "live or die" mentality that he tried to instill in his pupil was flawed because he equated living with fighting. He spent his whole life fighting: fighting to gain freedom, fighting to give freedom to others, fighting both the Sith and the Jedi, and fighting to stop his worst fears from coming true. Which only made those visions and fears inevitable. Palpatine may have dug his claws into and corrupted Anakain through their "friendship", but ultimately it was Anakin who sealed his own fate. That black and white viewpoint is what created Vader.
He's teaching Ahsoka not only to stop lingering in the shadow of his complicated and dark legacy, but also to stop treating life as a constant battle. To not end up as fearful and bitter as him. Ahoska has spent most of her life post-Order 66 clouded by the fear and trauma of what Anakin became. She's fearful of training Grogu and Sabine, of continuing the legacy of her master, and fears just allowing herself to be a Jedi and a hero. But, now that Anakin gave her this final lesson and catharsis, she has a renewed sense of hope and a stronger connection to the Force and her purpose. Rosario did such a great job portraying the contrast between the battle-weary and fearful Ahsoka, and this new "Ahsoka the White" that has so much light and life in her eyes.
He's heard it before from his son Luke on the Death Star.
That line is what told me this wasn't just Ashoka's imagination projecting.
If Anakin has that knowledge then this is his force presence.
The line 'You lack conviction.' really resonated with me.
Watching this on Valentine's Day and what a lovely gift this reaction was! Knowing you already took the time to see see Clone Wars and Rebels (and knowing how much all those stories and characters meant to you) meant you'd get the full pay-off from this episode. I love watching reactors who care about the characters and get the deeper details about them and pull from the episodes the things that make me love these shows. I really love watching your reactions and so once again, thank you for sharing this one and have a wonderful Valentine's Day!
Ahsoka: "I won't fight you"
Anakin: "I've heard that before"
Luke to Vader in ROTJ: "I won't fight you"
So first to answer your question, there was a little deaging in episode 5 of Kenobi(but not....substantial). They did more work here because it was more than his flashback scenes in Kenobi. Ever since we knew this series was coming while you were watching Rebels, we've been waiting for your reaction to this episode. For one it was because this episode aired on the 15th anniversary of the CW movie. As such when Anakin took Ahsoka into her memories, a good number of us believe that was the mission to Teth(the planet where they rescued Jabb's son Rota from). From there we all pretty much agree the second flashback was the Ryloth Campaign (when Ahsoka lost a wing of fighters). And of course ended with thr Siege of Mandalore from season 7(WE GOT REX IN LIVE ACTION). On the Hera side of the story we got to see Jacen is his father's son. And we got some nice interaction between Hera and Huyang (Carson and his reaction to Jacen being Force sensitive ALWAYS gets a laugh). Your insight serves you well m'lady. Your understanding of what Anakin was teaching is pretty much how most of us who loved this episode have understood. And I just wanna add that you can tell Hayden watched CW as he was DEFINITELY channeling Matt. Also Hayden is still a BEAST with the lightsaber choreography. I did also love the little callback to that First episode of Tales of the Jedi with Ahsoka contacting the Purgill
"Chopper will murder for very little reason." -Sesska has clearly completed her Rebels homework.
This episode. Easily Top 5 live action Star Wars TV episodes for me.
- Huge feeling of validation/vindication seeing Ahsoka and Anakin in their Clone Wars gear in live action.
- First time ever seeing a physical costume for Phase 1 clone trooper armor. In Attack of the Clones it was all digital.
- Rex appearing in live action and performed by Temuera Morrison was a big item on my Star Wars wish list and I'm so happy I can check it off! Now all I need is a story where Rex interacts with Luke & Leia...
- That shot of Anakin walking away from Ahsoka and his silhouette becoming Vader's
Anakin = Father of Mortis
Ahsoka = daughter of Mortis
Hayden, got de aged but for a guy, who’s like 43 this year (42 at the time) I really don’t think he’s aged a day.
Hayden, taking on the daunting task of playing the character of Anakin as he played him in 2005 and how Matt Lanter played him from 2008-2013; 2020 was really cool to take all of the character of Anakin on in both variants.
I didn’t know this until recently, but like Hayden actually wanted to get the role of Anakin in TCW, that’s insane to me and at the same time I really would’ve been all for it if Lucasfilm had the money and agreements could be made.
Seeing Hayden, looking like how Anakin looked in TCW S1-2 was like one of the coolest things, ever just to see the armour, and his hair was slightly shorter.
In Dave Filoni we trust
I love the way Hayden Christensen's fighting style completely changes when he shifts into "Vader mode".
I never realized that I needed closure between Ash and Ani. This episode brought me back to the Clone Wars movie where Yoda called it.
"Ready he is, to teach an apprentice. To let go of his pupil, a greater challenge this will be."
2 things, First they gave her the jewel Padawan braid. Second, that was Rex it said so in the subtitles.
I like your comments on her need to keep fighting
What I think after multiple watching was Ahsoka was held back by fear, ever since she learned who Vader really was, fear that she was in an inevitable path not necessarily to the dark side but soaked in blood as a warrior, and that would be all she had to offer to Grogu or Sabine
And what Anakin wanted to teach her as a final lesson was that every master passes on their accumulated wisdom and ability to reach of their successive padowan, like branches in an eternal tree, with potential for both good and bad, but there is still a choice and not a curse... That she was not doomed and had no need to fear her future, as an individual or as a mentor, to choose life and return to the world (whether inspired by Tolkein or particularly CS Lewis / Narnia influence on the whole series) with that burden lifted from her shoulders
Her whole life, from the moment Ahsoka was thrust into war as a child up until this point, Ahsoka has been surviving. Anakin showed up to give her "one... last lesson" (as Ezra said of Kanan after his own experience in the World Between Worlds), and that lesson is not to survive, but to *live.*
Truth be told, I always found Rosario Dawson's Ahsoka to be a little stiff and wooden, which I thought was a shame since they weren't fully utilising Dawson's excellent acting talent. But then in this episode, after her lesson with Anakin, she opens up so much and seems full of warmth and life again, like the Ahsoka we knew during Clone Wars and Rebels. She found that spark again.
Having seen this episode, them having written it this way makes a lot more sense to me, and I kind of love it as an arc for her. The jaded, tired, survival-mode Ahsoka learning to let go of all she's endured and become the Jedi she was always meant to be is wonderful.
That scene with Jacen and Hera hearing the lightsabers clashing amidst the waves crashing gives me so many chills. Pure magic.
Jedi are _encouraged_ to love. Anakin himself explains it in Ep 2. The danger is the Fear that can come from love. Attachment means _Fear of Loss._ Jedi get their Strength from Love.
In rebals Ashoka explains how much her master cared for his friends, and then Anikin’s claim in Episode II to stop people from dying, he to a certain extent keeps fulfilling that promise with Ashoka threw the crazy training he put her threw in tales of the Jedi to survive order 66 and now to bring her back in balance with herself and the force to emerge as Ashoka “the white”. Such a great episode and was really looking forward to this reaction and you didn’t disappoint thank you for sharing it with us 👏🏽🫶🏽
And there’s still more to come haha
I always love your reactions. :) I think that the lesson that Anakin was there to teach her was 3 fold: 1.) That just because she was part of that Legacy of Master/Padawan that lead to Anakin's Fate, that she was not bound by it and could make her own way (if that makes sense); 2.) As you said, she was a lot more bubbly and "free spirited" when she was younger and had become, not just more reserved, but was basically just surviving and letting the past rule her present. She was not living in the moment or really looking to the future (at least as far as her own life goes); 3.) After losing the fight with Baylan and getting thrown off the cliff into the water, she could have drowned and died if she had given up and stopped fighting. Anakin's lesson was that she needed to decide to live, not just survive, and by doing so, she found the strength to hang on until they found her in the water.
A little of both: Hayden looks young for his age and they touched him up in post. I love that you can't tell by looking! They did well.
The phenomenal performance of Hayden. Obi-wan has always been my favourite Jedi, but Anakin has officially become my favourite CHARACTER. The way he slips in and out of Vader's terrifying aura and Anakin's wholesome child-like aura, is so, perfect? I dont really have words for it. I have always felt and will always feel terrified of Vader, but I LOVE Anakin, his story is so tragic and there's so much more I wish for him. The fact that in a matter of seconds I can feel both those feelings, shows how great the writing is. I've always appreciated good story-writing, not the CGI. I've always been more of a prequels lover, but I always loved all 6.
This is where the fun begins.
I love the “Ive heard that before” he’s fully aware of his time as Vader and his encounters with Luke 😍
Amazing episode! Also congratulations on hitting 100k!!
It took this long to get us to the end of Filoni's shorthard postscript at the end of Rebels. All the pieces are in place ... Hera, Jacen and Chopper... Sabine with shorn hair in Mandalorian armor....and Ahsoka the Grey has become Ahsoka the White.
Rebels World between Worlds was used in such a powerful way and Filoni is now the master so there will be a dynamic world.
I love how Dave is using the World between Worlds and its not a static entity of existence.
Having Hayden play the live action version of Clone Wars Anakin makes his character more likeable than the "prequel film" Anakin.
@sesskasays,
20:22 Ahsoka was Anakin's Anchor; she carried the torch that Padme no longer could. Padme had Anakin's heart, but Ahsoka was tethered to his soul, and when he lost Ahsoka, he lost himself.
It took 19 years in darkness for him to find a glimmer of hope, and it took him another two years to take a leap of faith, guided by the love of his son, Luke.
I have a strong feeling Anakin Skywalker didn't just show up to balance out Ahsoka, he's playing 4D Chess with Abeloth.
Spoilers,
Because Anakin decided not to stay on Mortis during the clone wars, and the absence of the Father for the first time in recorded history, Abeloth grew in power and influenced Baylan and maybe other people to free her.
The way i see it, now Anakin is doing his job at maintaining balance in the force not as a Jedi or Sith but the Chosen one. It was about 30 years between The Fathers death in the clone wars and Anakins death in ROTJ. Assuming he is The Father now, he missed out on 3 decades.
And I think the role of the Father is intertwined with the Daughter and the Son. In the last episode, hence spoilers, the statue of the Daughter was erased. I think this reflects Anakin's special training with Ahsoka.
The Son could have survived because the balance of the force had shifted in favour to the dark side. I think its possible we could see Sam Witwer play a live action Son, and Anakin is training her to balance out the dark side. I think there needs to be 3 One again.
If Abeloth, the Mother, has turned the Son from his role in contributing to balance, they would need to balance this out. When equilibrium is restored through The Father, Son and Daughter again, they can defeat abeloth. And something tells me Abeloth could have something to do with somehow Palpatine has returned
"Chopper will murder for...very little reason"
Hayden still looks great; there was some digital de-aging in this but not in Obi-Wan Kenobi.
I knew your reaction here would be great, and I really know your reaction to the next episode will be so fun to watch.
As a die-hard Clone Wars and Rebels fan - this episode was absolute perfection to me
There was some de-aging work done on Hayden for flashbacks in Kenobi, less work and more natural Hayden in this
I just found your channel today and this reaction video has all of the things that make SW fandom great. I look forward to going through your previous videos. Keep up the awesome work!
See when the show first came out people complained at the start about Ahsoka seemingly really cold and detached. And I always loved how that was true to an extent, but it changes after this episode and she lets loose a bit. Because shes got closure on Anakin, since the last we saw her in depth before now was the duel and we had no clue how she was impacted by it
100k! Congrats!
This episode can accurately be described as “Gaggy”
This episode is some of the single best Star Wars content we’ve be given.
As per usual, awesome insights and analysis on the episode. Your understanding of the characters and themes is top notch.
Thanks for watching this episode this is the best episode of Ahsoka, to see Anakin and Ahsoka in real life
"I've heard that before"
Luke!
Greatest episode of all time hands down
The Chosen One Return's to teach a lesson to he's Padawan "Live or die" Straight up Rocky and Mikey moment!!!! My Favorite episode 🧡💙⚡🌋🤘
Nobody's ever really "gone".
Congrats on the 100k!
From Yoda, to Dooku, to Qui-Gon Jinn, to Obi-Wan Kenobi, to Anakin Skywalker, to Ahsoka Tano, to Sabine Wren.......
11:20 - Anakin, now "one with The Force", his experiences in life balanced between the Light and the Dark (consider how many years in each that he lived), is now capable of controlling both. Because Ahsoka was so guilt ridden over Anakin's turn to the Dark Side, he needed to channel it in order for her to realize that turning to the Dark Side was his destiny all along. That, he NEEDED to become a Sith, in order to become the true Master of The Force that he has. She realizes now that it was not her leaving the Jedi Order that caused his turn... even if she had stayed his Padawan, nothing would have changed for Anakin.
"All is, as The Force wills it."
It took Anakin 3 tries, but he finally achieved his life's goal.
He couldn't save his mother.
He couldn't save Padme.
He saved Ahsoka.
"He had such a knowledge of the force. He could even save those he cared about from dying." - Revenge of the Sith.
7:29 hits me every fucking time 😂 never gets less insane
Man young Ahsoka was perfectly cast
I’ve waited 5 weeks for this
15:18, can't wait to see him as Iroh.
Jacen is wearing Kannans shoulder pad too. I absolutely love this.
Thanks for this great video. i live alone, well with my cat who is the boss and knows it, and its my birthday today, a big one too, so this made my day. thanks again you are awesome. an whales, what more could i ask for.
"I won't fight you"
"I've heard that before"
In reference to rebels when she fought Vader 😢
Hoo doggies! I've been *WAITING* for you to get to this one!!
Not gonna lie to you, but your analyzes about Anakin's lesson was so good that made me feel dumb for mine. It makes so much sense and I loved it. I love your after thoughts and I'm incredibly glad you decided to watch and react to Star Wars in your channel, you are sooooooo damn brilliant! Keep up the good work, honestly.
Oh my god, he Vadered.
Clone Wars tried to give Anakin that redemption path the movies didn't. It may have even over done it a bit with the characters to give people more sympathy for him and a feeling that Vader is a separate thing. However I think in trying to show the complexity this episode did something I think good for the story of Anakin Skywalker. He did have something left to teach Ahsoka. It was a choice of life but to be honest it was a choice of two roads. Either choose life and follow the path that Anakin did and become something horrible or choose the Walt Whitman path of The Road Not Taken. The hard road for Ahsoka was to choose life but not take the easy path to darkness. Take the hard path that honestly leads you into the unknown and the new.
Ahsoka the White on deck. You can see the guilt and fear has been lifted off her soul. Well done Anakin. Making amends even after death.
this episode had me shook for a whole week when it dropped lmao, this shit was surreal
This episode proves that the issues of Hayden playing Anakin wasn't Hayden. Given a good script and a good director, the prequels could have extraordinary storytelling. And Hayden is giving a master class in subtle acting. Even without VFX changing his eyes to and from Sith red, you can see what part of his journey he is on by the way Hayden holds his body, sets his face, and his voice. Especially the moment Hayden drops his face as Vader and raises it again as Anakin.
I think on other fan channels the other fans say yes Haden was given a tweek similar to Mark Hamil. Just not asmuch because Hamil is older as we know.
Anakin he chooses to look like his 20 year old self , who wouldn't... but he's able to change form as you saw.
Did you notice her eyes turn sith yellow when she had the saber at Vader's neck?
Is Asoka destined to go down the path of the Darkside? Or will she become a grey?! So glad you're getting caught up. Best reactions on UA-cam.
O meu episódio favorito. Sempre adorei a dinâmica Anakin/Vader. E gosto da teoria de ele agora ser o "Pai" e da teoria de que Grogu quando viu os purrgils, Ahsoka já estava com eles e que Grogu sentiu Ahsoka e não necessariamente os purrgils.
This episode is perfect 👌
Great reaction Jess to a great episode of Star Wars.
The lesson was that Ashoka had to move on from the guilt she was feeling at leaving Anakin and the Jedi order behind. She felt somewhat responsible for Anakin turning to the dark side.
Uninjured Vader at full potential would be absolutely terrifying
9:00 😮❤🥰 Captain Rex!!!!
9:12 My favorite moment for some reason. Seeing how Ahsoka must have copied her stance from Anakin gives me the feels. It's like, she does it all the time, and you never think about why until this moment.
Amazing reaction, when you do the editing you will love it more 😊😊😊
We could all use a real-life series of a wholesome pre-Vader Anakin. 🙂
This is where the fun begins!
We've all been anticipating your reaction. I know I have.
Hayden: is on screen
me: cries like a fucking baby
I don't think Ahsoka deserved the amount of hate it got, I consider it bad timing due to today's issues. That's twice this character fell into the negative for some. To me this was everything I asked for, and your reactions will forever be with me through this character ⚘️
This was a strong turning point in the show for me. I was enjoying it before this, but almost in spite of itself.
I saw what they were trying to do with Ahsoka, but the direction/writing just didn't work. Instead of showing how conflicted/depressed she was, it just felt slow and boring. But there was still good character stuff sprinkled throughout.
From this point though, you can see they let Rosario have a bit more fun as the character and the show itself reflects that. The tone and pace of the direction really picks up also so it is just a more interesting show to watch from here.
The best episode in the series.
9:01 Oh captain, my captain!