Ahsoka Part 5 Shadow Warrior Review: Anakin’s return is one of many highlights in a beautiful Dave Filoni episode

Ahsoka taking a major step along the hero’s journey, Hayden Christensen‘s best performance as Anakin Skywalker and Dave Filoni‘s masterful direction make Shadow Warrior the best Star Wars story since Return of the Jedi.

Filoni uses one of the most simple, yet undeniable aspects of a hero’s journey. A hero must fall to his lowest level and face their demons in order to pick themselves up. As Alfred rhetorically states to Bruce in Batman Begins, “Why do we fall? So we can learn to pick ourselves back up.”

In Shadow Warrior, Ahsoka receives a helping hand from her former Master Anakin in The Space Between Worlds. Anakin’s opening line presents Ahoska with two choices: live or die. He takes Ahsoka through her past. Christensen is terrific in the episode constantly blurring the line between Jedi Knight and the Sith Lord he becomes. Arianna Greenblatt (Barbie) continues her hot streak in 2023 as a young Ahsoka. After Ahsoka’s sojourn in The Space Between World, she comes out the other side with a more youthful, almost go-with-the-flow demeanor. Ahsoka’s legacy was laced with tragedy and full of war. However, just because she was raised in a time of war doesn’t mean she needs to remain shackled to her past.

Meanwhile, Hera Syndulla, Carson Teva, Jacen and Huyang search Seastos for Ahsoka while trying to stall the New Republic fleet. The subplot highlights Jacen’s connection to the force and Paul Sun-Hyung Lee‘s impeccable comedic timing as Teva.

The icing on the cake of Shadow Warrior is Kevin Kiner‘s fantastic score, which features several allusions to John Williams but with a classy approach that works as an homage rather than a copy.

One issue with the episode is The Space Between Worlds isn’t explained in any way. Ahsoka asks Anakin, but he brushes off her question.

However, the lack of an explanation doesn’t stop Shadow Warrior from being an impressive piece of Star Wars canon from Filoni and a terrific redemption story for Christensen.

With the overview out of the way, let’s delve deeper into Ahoska’s past. There may be some minor spoilers. Ahsoka is streaming on Disney Plus.

Anakin’s return in Shadow Warrior

Christensen delivers a flawless performance as Anakin. Every line has a shadow hanging over it. Christensen excels at bringing out both sides of Anakin.

Anakin starts the padawan, master reunion by offering Ahsoka two choices. She can live or die. They immediately engage in the lightsaber duel. While they’re mostly even, Anakin cuts the platform Ahsoka is standing on. Ahsoka falls into her past.

Rosario Dawson fades to the background and Greenblatt takes over Ahosoka. The first stop on Ahsoka memory tour in The Clone Wars. Ahsoka struggles to comprehend the carnage of war and blames herself for the death of the troops. Anakin reminds her this is war and he has to train her to survive. Ahsoka is most appalled when Anakin makes a joke. Ahsoka is mourning the death of her soldiers and Anakin’s callous disconnect throws her off. Anakin heads forward into a literal fog of war and Filoni cleverly uses the vestige of Vader to illustrate the darkness surrounding Anakin.

Anakin and young Ahoska reunite once again during the siege of Mandalore. She rejects Anakin’s teachings and Anakin tells her she’s wrong and they’re going to start from the beginning. The episode returns to The Space Between Worlds with Dawson as Ahsoka facing off against Anakin again. Ahsoka disarms Anakin and declares she wants to live.

Anakin’s appearance serves to remind Ahsoka of the legacy she was forged in. However, Ahsoka comes out of The Space Between Worlds free to carve out a new legacy. Ahsoka’s past will always be a part of who she is. However, the anchor weighing her down is no more.

Search for Ahsoka

Meanwhile, Hera, Teva and Jacen continue to search for Ahsoka. They find Huyang who is angry at Ahsoka and Sabine for not following his words of wisdom to stick together.

Hera and Teva aren’t having much luck picking up Ahsoka’s trace. In addition to the crashing waves, Jacen hears something else. Hera doesn’t hear it at first, but Jacen implores his mother to have patience. She stops and listens intently. They’re able to hear the faint sounds of lightsabers clashing. Hera and Teva are able to locate Ahsoka with Jacen and Chopper’s help.

Hera is also trying to keep The New Republic at bay. She’s currently leading a fleet on an unsanctioned mission; her rank could be stripped and she hasn’t found much proof. Luckily, Teva on hand to provide some necessary comedic relief.

Out of the shadows, into the light

Following her rescue, Ahsoka’s demeanor is remarkably lighter. She calmly retraces what happened between Baylan and Sabine. Ahsoka appears to take Sabine’s departure in stride.

She reaches out using force to the school of Purrgil and flies her ship into the whale’s mouth. In the episode’s funniest moment, Huyang is pleased to find out Ahoska knows where Sabine is heading. Ahsoka has no idea where Sabine and Baylan are but embraces the uncertainty. Ahsoka chooses to trust the force.

Hera decides to stay behind with Jacen and face the consequences.

Dawson shines in showing how Ahoska has changed following her encounter with Anakin.

Shadow Warrior final thoughts

Overall, Shadow Warrior succeeds in using the nostalgia of Anakin returning to reset Ahsoka’s purpose moving forward. The visuals, performances, music and properly inserted comedy work to forge one of the most memorable chapters in live-action Star Wars.

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