Lucasfilm recently issued an official statement regarding the Ahsoka series, shedding light on its viewership numbers since its debut on Disney+. The Star Wars show kicked off with a sizzling reception on Disney+, as the former Jedi, Ahsoka Tano, accompanied by Natasha Liu Bordizzo's Sabine Wren, embarks on a quest to track down the elusive Grand Admiral Thrawn and Ezra Bridger. However, one outlet reported that it had poor viewership despite all the hype for the series.
Disney had previously opted not to disclose precise numbers. Still, Samba TV, the organization responsible for estimating these viewership figures, reported that the Ahsoka series premiere's viewership closely matches that of Andor (via Forbes), but falls noticeably behind the colossal numbers achieved by The Mandalorian and Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Within its initial five days of release, Ahsoka managed to captivate 1.2 million households, a figure identical to Andor's performance. This parity in viewership is somewhat surprising given that Ahsoka represents the culmination of 11 years of animated series by Dave Filoni, leading some to anticipate a stronger debut.
Moreover, the figures represent a 29% decline in viewership compared to The Mandalorian Season 3, which garnered 1.7 million households during a comparable timeframe. There is also a 50% decrease in viewership compared to Obi-Wan Kenobi despite the Ewan McGregor show receiving mixed reviews. It's a surprising decline considering that Ahsoka features a lot of Star Wars characters that fans are excited to see in the live-action adaptation.
However, Lucasfilm has since confirmed the numbers on the Star Wars website. According to the studio, Ahsoka's debut episode Master and Apprentice had garnered 14 million views. This solidified the series as the #1 show globally on the streaming platform.
It's no surprise that Ahsoka did so well during its premiere. Both critics and fans found themselves captivated by the initial two episodes, despite the presence of some puzzling moments for those devoted to the prequel trilogy. Ahsoka Tano's journey has been met with enthusiasm, and the series appears to be garnering a dedicated following, setting the stage for a promising future in the Star Wars Universe on the Disney+ platform.
Ahsoka didn't open as strong as The Mandalorian or Obi-Wan Kenobi but this may have to do with viewing parties that Star Wars fans held in honor of the premiere. After all, it's more fun to watch the action together in a group so you can go through that epic lightsaber duel between Sabine and Shin Hati in the company of friends.
For now, things may still be looking up for Ahsoka. Anticipation for the third episode is still high and we could learn the truth about Grand Admiral Thrawn's whereabouts this week. Ahsoka Episode 3 premieres on Disney+ on August 29, 2023.
