Ahsoka Episode 6: Far, Far Away - Thrawn's Triumphant Return and Long-Awaited Reunions

While the titular character is missing for most of this episode, apart from the opening scene with Huyang, Ahsoka Episode 6, aptly named "Far, Far Away" is a homage to Star Wars, complete with likeable characters and an expected "Grand" appearance. Every episode of Star Wars: Ahsoka has been epic in scale, production and execution and "Far Far Away" is no exception with exceptional acting, intriguing insights into the mythology and of course, peppered with nostalgia and the expected reunions.

We start off where we ended Episode 5, with Huyang and Ahsoka still hitching a ride in the mouth of a giant purrgill as the mysterious whale travels through hyperspace. Far out! There's some meaningful dialogue as Ahsoka reveals Sabine's "choice" to go willingly with the enemy, her heart set on finding Ezra to which Huyang responds that the force gives insight but does not always provide all the answers and perhaps, for Sabine, this was her only choice. Rather than consider any possibility of questioning the all powerful force that defines every Jedi's existence, Ahsoka instead settles for one of Huyang's stories to which the faithful droid complies and begins with "A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away..." Poignant and touching, this sets the tone for the rest of the episode.

The very next scene and we're transported to that far, far away galaxy as our antagonists along with Sabine Wren, now a prisoner aboard Morgan Elsbeth's Eye of Sion, arrive out of hyperspace with the ominous Peridea in full view. Baylan Skoll explains that Peridea is where the purrgill come to die and we realize shortly that the planetary ring is actually just bones of dead space whales in orbit. Creepy!

The creepiness persists as Morgan, Baylan, Shin and Sabine touch down on Peridea and we are greeted by the eerie Dathomiri Night Sisters and the commanding Great Mother who notes Sabine as "dangerous" and has her immediately imprisoned. The formidable weirdness of these witches are note-worthy in that even Shin mutters "more witches" to Baylan as a side phrase. They're definitely creepy and giving off the whole Bene Gesserit & Reverend Mother vibes.

Before we carry on with the story, let me just take a moment to acknowledge my two favorite take-aways from this episode. Firstly - the score and sound is simply phenomenal. From the almost synth-like beacon beat arrival on Peridea to the haunting eeriness that accompanies it to the echoes, windswept tones of the witches and the cold, militaristic drums of Thrawn's arrival to the complete polar opposite playful sounds of the Noti, this episode was an aural delight.

Secondly, was Baylan Skoll. Again, the late Ray Stevenson has a commanding presence on screen. Yes, his character is overshadowed by the return of Lars Mikkelson's Thrawn, the true Heir To The Empire but Baylan has some of the most unique dialogue in the episode. Through him we learn that the conflict between Jedi and the Empire is an ongoing, endless cycle, one that he means to rectify "at the beginning". While we're not given the opportunity to understand exactly what this means, it does bring to light the possibility that Light Side and Dark Side, Good and Evil, Jedi and Sith are all equally accountable for all the turmoil and war of Star Wars and that Baylan means to end it. He reminisces about the jedi temple burning and we get the feeling that Baylan is more Jedi than mercenary, something that Thrawn is quick to observe and relay to Morgan. Baylan also makes a mention of an power on Peridea,  one that has caused even the Dathomiri to flee but one that "calls to him". Again, we're not given any inkling of what this power is but I get the feeling that Peridea is central to the overall storyline and I'm hoping we get to see this thread explored some more.

Star Wars: Ahsoka has been gradually building up to the triumphant return of Thrawn and in that, it delivers exceptionally. Lars Mikkelson was born to play Thrawn. It's really hard to believe that 11 years had passed as Thrawn's menacing, cold logic and steel resolve is almost autonomous. He get's straight to business without a moment's delay. In typical Thrawn style, he honor's Baylan's promise to Sabine and allows her to seek out Ezra but promptly dispatches Baylan and Shin to hunt them down and destroy both Jedi. Morgan's questioning of Thrawn dispatching only two additional regiments to go after the Jedi is met with that cold, swift and emotionlessly calculated answer. Thrawn means to return to the Star Wars mainstream galaxy and lay claim to the mantle of Heir to the Empire. Ezra, Sabine and even Baylan and Shin are secondary to his primary goal and he has no hesitation in leaving them all stranded on Peridea.

We're also introduced to Thrawn's new wing-man, the gold-faced Enoch who seems totally bad-assed and hopefully more so than Captain Phasma. I totally dig the whole Japanese kintsugi vibe of adorning their broken armor and ship with gold and red. Again, a nod to Thrawn's appreciation of art which I thought was really awesome!

We also get some quintessential Star Wars humor and some very cute and likeable native lifeforms of Peridea. Ahsoka is given a blood hound, which at first seems like a savage wolf-hound like beast that is native to the planet. Later on though we get some funny banter between Sabine and her "faithful" mount and the hound is naught but a friendly pup looking to please her mistress. It leads her to the shelled grasshopper-like Noti, cute creatures with some gobbledygook like language. They, in turn, lead Sabine to another, much warmer reunion than her previous meeting with Thrawn.

Yep, we finally get to meet Ezra Bridger, who is alive and kicking and well, eager to go home. I have to admit, Ezra's re-introduction, played on screen by Eman Esfandi, felt a little anti-climactic. Maybe it was just the casual way he was introduced, just standing on the side of the little Noti tent or maybe it was because we were all already expecting his return. Either way, the chemistry and friendship between Sabine and Ezra is undeniably present and I'm eager to see what direction their relationship takes, particularly once Ezra learns that Sabine... well sort of betrayed her friends to come get him.

All in all, a solid episode that sets us up for what is going to be a series of confrontations to come. We will obviously get to see some Jedi fisticuffs as Baylan and Shin catchup with Ezra and Sabine and now with Thrawn invoking the dark magic of the Dathomir witches in preparation for Ahsoka's arrival on Peridea, we're in for an explosive next episode. Until then, see you next week in a galaxy far, far away!