Fallen Jedi, the fourth episode of Ahsoka, acts as a sort of mid-season finale for the series and oh boy, does it succeed. This episode had it all, action, character, story, stakes and a satisfying cliffhanger. Those who didn’t watch Star Wars Rebels may be a little lost come the credits, but this is some mighty satisfying Star Wars, one that left me giddy by the end. If you feel you need to quickly watch some Rebels after that episode, we also have you covered in this article.

We picked up where we left off last week, with Ahsoka, Sabine and Huyang sorting out how to fix their damaged ship. While the need to reach out to Home One is essential, it also allows some much-needed time for Ahsoka and Sabine to get a last bonding moment before the action sets in. The show so far has done a good job at catching audiences up to who Ezra is and what he means to Sabine and the show makes a point to emphasize this during the precious downtime in this episode. This is because, as teased during the opening fanfare with the helmets, Sabine’s emotions get the better of her and she ends up helping Baylon, another fallen Jedi, to unlock the coordinates on the map. Baylon, Shin and Morgan end up whisked away to find Thrawn while Sabine, their captive, joins with the hope of finding Ezra. Sabine could’ve easily destroyed the map, she was pointing a blaster right at it, but the chance, the hope that she’d find her friend ultimately swayed her just long enough to give him the map and thus, the route.

It’s a huge character-defining moment, one that hurts even more after four seasons of Rebels. Sabine has felt aimless and alone in the years since losing Ezra and one may argue that she harbours romantic feelings towards him. As such, she’d be willing to do anything to bring him back, whereas Ahsoka cautions that Ezra’s rescue cannot in any way be the cause of Thrawn’s return, the risk and cost are just too great. But Sabine, in a moment of weakness as opposed to becoming evil, surrenders the map, as she desperately wants to find Ezra and knows this route will bring her to him. Her weakness was not shown as a moment of evil, but as a lapse in judgement, one driven by relatable human emotion. So the decision is believable and we, the audience, can buy into her actions.

The episode also features a lot of action, including saber duels between Shin and Sabine and Ahsoka and Marrok, who ended up being a phantom likely controlled by Morgan. Didn’t have that one on my Marrok bingo card. Hopefully, there’s more to him but think that’s it. The big scene was Ahsoka versus Baylon, who ultimately gets the best of her and tosses her off the cliff. Instead of hanging on the side or being washed ashore, Ahsoka ventures somewhere else and those without Rebels insight may want to read this article about the World Between Worlds as yes, Ahsoka does return to this void within the Force and comes face to face with none other than Anakin Skywalker! Hayden Christensen returns, albeit slightly and jarringly de-aged and I’m sure these two will have loads to talk about next week as the former Master and Apprentice unite for the first time in live-action. I do hope that Hayden doesn’t look quite as off next week, maybe it’s the lighting or something, but he does look a little weird, which is a contrast to his normal self in Obi-Wan Kenobi. But the emotional impact is all the same, especially for those who have watched The Clone Wars and saw the relationship between Ahsoka and Anakin.

I can’t wait to see what they’ll have to say to each other and how Ahsoka will end up finding Sabine, as Baylon destroyed the map, preventing anyone else from using it and following them. The odds really seemed stacked against the heroes here and I love the genuine sense of concern and excitement I have right now. What will happen next and how will it play out? Barring the shots of Thrawn from the trailer footage, I believe we’re all caught up on what’s been shown in marketing, so we’re literally venturing into the unknown here. I don’t really know what’s going to happen next and it’s great to be back in that sense of wonder and excitement in a galaxy far, far away once again.