Commentary: Disney’s Wide Range With ‘Star Wars’ TV

by Frank Martin

Now that the first season of Ahsoka is over, it’s interesting to look at the different shows across Disney+’s lineup of Star Wars programs and see the differences. Ahsoka‘s style of storytelling is especially remarkable when contrasted with the very first thing that Disney+ released related to Star Wars: The MandalorianThat show has evolved with its stories over time, but the first season is extremely distinct for having its own flair and vibe. So contrasting it against the first season of Ahsoka can be helpful to understand the wide range these shows have taken.

When The Mandalorian, starring Pedro Pascal premiered along with the launch of Disney+, it was very contained in the stories it would tell. They were very short in scope, consisting of completely original characters without any real connection to the larger Star Wars universe. The entire inaugural run more or less played out this way and it was a huge success. It showed that the platform could be used to expand the universe in its own separate pocket without affecting any other branch of Star Wars.

Ahsoka, starring Rosario Dawson, is the exact opposite. It’s a story primarily made up of already existing characters, most of whom had premiered in animated forms. In fact, the entire storyline was a continuation of an already existing series, Star Wars Rebels. By its very nature, Ahsoka was inherently tied into the larger Star Wars universe and will inevitably connect with other Star Wars features down the line. This contrast between the first season of The Mandalorian and Ahsoka are examples of the different ways storytellers can approach Star Wars. The fact that the streaming service has been able to capitalize on different types of storytelling within the same franchise has been a unique success with no equal.

Ahsoka and The Mandalorian are now streaming on Disney+.