Why Ahsoka Is Awesome

[lazypadawan]

When rumors circulated that Anakin was going to have a young female padawan in CW, my first thought was, "I hope she's not a Mary Sue." With a full season of CW behind us, I'm happy to say that my worst fears were not realized. Better yet, I adore the spunky little Togruta. She fits believably into the story without trying to usurp what's best about the bigger-than-life characters around her.

It's likely she was conceived as a hook for younger viewers and to help the show's appeal with girls. But she's no cypher. She draws out a new side of Anakin as he is put into the position of being a teacher. More importantly, she has her own personality, her own motivations, and her own issues. Sure, she's a good fighter and like her master, almost seems to enjoy battle. According to Wookieepedia, Ahsoka wears that silver thing around her head to signify that she has single-handedly taken out the dreaded akul creature. What a lil' bad-you-know-what! But despite all of that, she is vulnerable. She desperately wants please Anakin, almost the way a younger Anakin desperately wanted to win Obi-Wan's approval. She's plenty smart but at times the show reminds you she's still a kid caught up in a very grown-up situation. One can imagine her recklessness, her impertinence, and her aggression made her a bit of an outsider among the more serene and disciplined Jedi. She displays at times what Yoda meant by the younger Jedi being arrogant and too sure of themselves. Those qualities bond Anakin and Ahsoka together in some ways, but causes friction in other ways. Sometimes when you have two people who are a lot alike together, things can get prickly at times.

While Ahsoka has some maturing to do, she does have a good heart. She is kind, compassionate, and worries about doing the right thing.

One reason why I'm very glad Ahsoka's even there is that this is the first time outside of a book or comic that a female Jedi has had a starring role. The other female Jedi we've seen in the movies were peripheral characters while the main heroines of the SW saga are largely political leaders. Padmé's not a Jedi and Leia's Force abilities are only brought up late in the game. I'm not a bean counter but it makes me glad to see someone break the mold. I don't think it would be nearly as interesting if Anakin trained a boy instead of a young girl.

Ahsoka's fate is unknown which helps give the show some tension and brings some pathos to her character. Her fate is not likely to be a happy one, whatever it turns out to be: death, expulsion or resignation from the Order, losing her master, years in exile. The best she can hope for is successfully hiding in obscurity after Order 66 and then joining the Rebellion, if not fading into a normal life, her Jedi past a forgotten secret.

In the meantime, I'll continue to watch her career with interest. Let's hope they keep up the good work with the tube- topped tween goddess.

Comments

[leia-naberrie.livejournal.com]

Nice! I've watched the movie and a few episodes out of order and I have to agree with this - Ahsoka is fabulous. :)

[lazypadawan.livejournal.com]

That she is!

[may-child.livejournal.com]

I haven't watched any of the regular CW series, but I did see the movie. Ahsoka was a little annoying at first, like when she called Anakin "Sky Guy," but she grew on me. I think she's a good addition to the story. I look forward to seeing her in the regular series when it comes out on DVD.

[lazypadawan.livejournal.com]

She gets even better on the t.v. show.

[reihla.livejournal.com]

I agree! I like her too. :) Just the right amount of cheeky rebelliousness.

[lazypadawan.livejournal.com]

Her cheekiness is definitely entertaining. My favorite is her "I'm fine too, thanks for asking" when Anakin only inquires about Padmé's safety.

[krpalmer.livejournal.com]

The start of this post did happen to remind me that just today, I noticed someone complaining "the term Mary Sue has been used way too much"... but I do understand what sort of possibility you were concerned about. Watching some of the promotional videos just before the Clone Wars movie came out, I did wonder a little about whether they were trying to play up the "girl power" aspect of Ahsoka too much... but perhaps what I was most worried about myself was something different, a product of being conscious of those who lamented that Padme didn't go out blaster blazing and hurling defiance, being worried that Ahsoka was somehow going to be a substitute "strong female character." Fortunately, Padme did show up, and that perhaps helped free Ahsoka to "be herself" in my eyes.

As you've said, Ahsoka's fate is unknown... perhaps I hope that the series will wrap up before Revenge of the Sith begins, with her and Anakin separated through some minor matter but expecting to get back to being student and teacher again... but, of course, I can't expect anything.

[lazypadawan.livejournal.com]

We'll have to see what happens to Ahsoka.

What I worried about was Ahsoka being "better" or stronger than the characters around her, which would have made her unbearable ;). But fortunately they know what they're doing with the show.

[krpalmer.livejournal.com]

That may have been about what I had in mind for your concerns (only to not set them down myself)... although the thought has come to me that, for me, the term "Mary Sue" just might be defined as "a 'main character'... dropped into a story that already has one." (Or maybe, starting to wonder about exceptions to the rule, I've read so many MSTings of "cheesy fanfics" that I can only apply the term to fanfics...)