Having brought a "Star Wars" fan's instincts to the animated "The Clone Wars" and "Star Wars Rebels," writer-director Dave Filoni transferred that sensibility to live-action series. Clunky at times, at its best that unapologetic approach has yielded lump-in-the-throat moments, and it was on full display in the fifth episode of "Ahsoka," which reunited the titular character with Anakin Skywalker, creating another opportunity for Hayden Christensen to reprise the role.

With this week's premiere of "Ahsoka" on Disney+ -- the latest live-action series to round out the ever-expanding "Star Wars" universe -- a long-held hope of franchise obsessives and even some casual fans is being realized.