‘The Mandalorian,’ “Chapter 13: The Jedi”
There’s a lot riding on Ahsoka. After a year of just so-so Disney+ tentpole series, all eyes are on Ahsoka to see if the major franchises are… well, still major. I have my faith in the upcoming Star Wars show, though, because of one particular episode of The Mandalorian Season 2. In retrospect, “The Jedi” was kind of a backdoor pilot for Ahsoka, as it introduced the fan favorite Jedi into live-action, played by Rosario Dawson. The outer space samurai/western homage introduced one of the enemies we’ll see in the new series (the diabolical magistrate Morgan Elsbeth), and it confirmed what fans have long hoped/feared: Grand Admiral Thrawn is alive and kicking post-Return of the Jedi, and Ahsoka’s after him. But the real reason why “The Jedi” bodes so well for the Ahsoka series is showrunner Dave Filoni, who’s about as official an heir to George Lucas as we can get. It was his vision as writer and director of this episode that made it such a standout in a stellar season, and it’s his vision that’s guiding Ahsoka.