While discussing the upcoming Ahsoka TV show with Cinema Blend, Ahsoka Tano voice actress Ashley Eckstein advises that fans watch Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars: Rebels before tuning into the new show on August 23.
When asked whether the previous shows that heavily featured Jedi Ahsoka Tano would be relevant, Eckstein was adamant that they will be. “Oh, absolutely!” she said. “I actually recommend to everyone who is excited about the upcoming Ahsoka series, I highly recommend that you take the time to watch Clone Wars, and watch Star Wars Rebels, and even Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi. Because if you don’t, you’re going to miss out on crucial, crucial backstory that you really need to know to fully enjoy the Ahsoka series, which is so exciting.”
Not only do these series heavily explore Ahsoka Tano’s past as Anakin Skywalker’s apprentice and her complicated history with the Jedi order, but also her role in forming the Rebellion. Star Wars Rebels bridges the gap between the prequels and original trilogy, and Ahsoka is one of the main connecting threads.
Do you need to watch Star Wars Rebels and The Clone Wars before Ahsoka?
The unfinished storylines from Rebels are going to be continued in Ahsoka, which is set after the original Star Wars trilogy. Specifically, the disappearance of Rebels lead character Ezra Bridger will play a crucial role in Ahsoka, as will Rebels villain Grand Admiral Thrawn. The Ahsoka trailers gave us a glimpse of Thrawn who appears to be at large again, but Ezra is only shown in hologram form and is presumed to be missing. The end of Rebels suggests that Ahsoka and Sabine Wren were setting out to search for Ezra. We can expect to see their search in Ahsoka.
Rebels will also help fans get familiar with Thrawn, who has been a part of the Star Wars universe ever since the publication of Timothy Zahn’s novel Heir to the Empire in 1991. Rebels characters like Hera Syndulla, Chopper and Zeb will also play large parts in the Ahsoka show. Zeb already made a cameo in season 3 of The Mandalorian.
Watching Ahsoka without seeing these shows is certainly possible, but not recommended by really anybody who watches Star Wars, including myself. In fact, it will probably be very frustrating going into Ahsoka blind because the storylines will make little sense.
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