Ahsoka not for everyone

I do not intend to review Ahsoka, because I think it sucked.

And I don’t see the point of ranting for the next several minutes; so, instead, let us look at the discussion surrounding the show because it speaks volumes about the future of entertainment.

Ahsoka is a mildly divisive show. It has not necessarily divided the fandom like The Last Jedi. However, the responses are extreme. Basically, you either loved or hated it. The show failed (in my opinion) because it primarily appeals to fans of the Star Wars animated show (Rebels).

Outsiders like myself could not connect to these characters because we don’t know them. We don’t care that Thrawn is suddenly loose in a galaxy far, far away. It doesn’t matter to us that Sabine, Ezra, and Ahsoka are finally united.

That final shot of Baylon Skol is meaningless unless you know what that statue represents. The show satisfied long-time fans, while alienating viewers who cannot be bothered to watch every Star Wars show Disney puts out.

A year ago, I would have fumed at Dave Filoni (the writer and director) for neglecting my needs as a viewer. I would have questioned why he could not pen scripts prioritizing my entertainment requirements over those of the tiny minority that watched Star Wars: Rebels. But today, the notion of a Star Wars show that does not appeal to me is not particularly offensive.

Not everything that Hollywood puts out is for me. Secondly, I don’t have to watch every Star Wars show and movie in existence. This applies to every franchise. I made this argument when Mrs. Marvel came out. Older MCU fans raged online because they couldn’t understand why Disney would make a Marvel show with a seemingly juvenile tone.

It never occurred to them that Marvel was intentionally targeting teens and young adults, which means that, at its core, Mrs. Marvel was not meant for them.

They also lost their minds when Ava DuVernay suggested that A Wrinkle in Time, a film about a young black girl trying to navigate a world she barely understands, was not meant for them. And by ‘them,’ I mean older male viewers.

It would be the equivalent of me complaining that Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie sucks, even though the film is obviously aimed at seven-year- olds. But I understand that entitled attitude. Fantasy and science fiction have changed. When I was growing up, films and shows in those genres were rare. This is particularly true for comic book films.

So you watched them all. You couldn’t help it. Hollywood was doing a poor job of satisfying our enormous appetites. Also, those genres attracted the same type of nerdy audiences, probably because science fiction and fantasy were heavily stigmatized.

Today, decent fantasy and science fiction content is incredibly commonplace. Additionally, the genres are more mainstream, and they attract a diverse collection of viewers. While some artists can appeal to everyone, others prefer to target niche audiences.

What does this mean for us? As a Star Wars fan, you don’t have to watch every piece of Star Wars content that comes out. You don’t lose anything by skipping shows and movies that don’t appeal to your sensibilities.

In fact, the entertainment landscape would be a better place if we all learned to mind our business. I have seen people who hated Ahsoka attacking people who loved the show. That mindset makes no sense.

Who cares if someone loved a thing you hated? This is not 2005. You don’t have to watch Ahsoka if the first episode clearly rubbed you the wrong way. Gen V just came out, and apparently, it rocks.

Apple released season 2 of Foundation a while ago. The Creator is still in cinemas. You have too many Sci-Fi movies and shows to watch to obsess over the few you hate. Some of you need to go out and touch grass.

katmic200@gmail.com