I have deeply mixed feelings about the Season 1 finale of Ahsoka, which I think did a pretty good job of finishing out Dave Filoni’s latest Star Wars project but also felt a little rushed. I think we needed more than eight episodes this season, and I think that’s especially true with regards to Baylan’s story.

That’s the real reason I have mixed feelings. Why a pretty damn good season finale felt so terribly bittersweet.

The passing of Ray Stevenson could not have been anticipated, of course. It’s tragic that such a brilliant actor died, and obviously a crushing blow to the series, which leaves our mysterious dark Jedi standing on a mountainous statue looking off into the distance at what appears to be a volcano of some sort.

His quest is only just beginning—but I’m not sure how Lucasfilm will continue without Stevenson. A recasting is possible, but I don’t envy whoever has to fill those shoes (we’re perhaps not quite in Henry Cavill’s Geralt of Rivia recasting territory yet, but we’re close).

Stevenson did such a terrific job all season. He was absolutely the highlight of the entire show. I hope they dedicate Season 2 to his memory.

I’m definitely bummed out that this is all we got of Baylan, and we got just about as much Shin. Neither master nor apprentice had a single line in the finale. That might be less disappointing if we had more of Baylan to come. Alas.

The rest of the episode reminded me a lot of The Wizard Of Oz. Dorothy, the Scarecrow and the Tin Man (or Beskar Woman in this case) have to race up a tower fighting the Wicked Witch and her minions. That whole segment I couldn’t shake how much it made me think of Oz. The fact that they’re trying to get home only deepens the comparison.

Most of this episode was a whole bunch of action. Thrawn orders wave after wave of attacks on our heroes and they fend each off, though they take some hits along the way. Sabine manages to use the Force finally (color me shocked), first grabbing a lightsaber and stabbing it through the head of an undead zombie Stormtrooper and then using it to Force push Ezra into Thrawn’s departing ship.

That was, I must say, one hell of a leap of faith on Ezra’s part. I’m very much enjoying live-action Ezra, by the way. He’s so much like his Rebels counterpart. Such a lively presence in what has been a rather grim show. When he makes the jump he takes out two Stormtroopers and then hears some chatter on the radio saying they’re sending backup. “Thanks for the warning,” he jokes, dragging the body away. He pulls a Luke-and-Han and dresses up in the Stormtrooper armor, later (off-screen) stealing a ship and making it back to the New Republic where he’s reunited with Chopper and Hera.

Perhaps the most surprising thing about the episode is not that Thrawn escapes or that Ezra makes it home, but that Ahsoka, Sabine and Hayung are stranded in a galaxy far, far away (along with Baylan and Shin). That’s a much more interesting end to this season than them all making it home in one piece, and leaves a lot of interesting storytelling options open.

Of course, Disney might just have them all get back to their own galaxy in some other show, sort of like how Baby Yoda left Luke and returned to Mando in Boba Fett instead of The Mandalorian. That’s always possible! I guess we’ll see.

Overall, this season really picked up for me, and this was a strong—if bittersweet—finale. The action was a bit hit-or-miss, though I really enjoyed Ahsoka and Morgan’s duel. I’m still not sure that they’ve done a great job establishing Thrawn as this big, bad, brilliant arch-villain, but there’s still time for that. For now, we shall just have to wait and see.

What did you think? Let me know on Twitter or Facebook.

Scattered Thoughts:

Actually, this show has given me a new fondness for both Anakin and Hayden Christensen. That’s a pretty major achievement.

And I think that’s where I’ll stop. I may add more scattered thoughts as they come up. For now, say a prayer for Ray Stevenson who has, we hope, gone off to some other grand adventure in a galaxy far, far away.

For now, I whipped this up for sentimentality's sake:

May the Force be with you, Ray.