'Star Wars' Has Set the Stage For Ahsoka's Return in 'The Mandalorian'
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Earlier this year, the character Ahsoka Tano made a surprise return to the Star Wars universe in the final episodes of the animated Clone Wars series. The beloved character's return set the stage for her long-awaited first live action appearance.
Now, near the end of the third episode of The Mandalorian Season Two, Star Wars has finally officially confirmed Ahsoka's live-action debut. Bo-Katan Kryze, the Mandalorian warrior who helps out our hero, tells Mando he must take Baby Yoda to the Jedi known as Ahsoka Tano, which brings together decades of Star Wars lore.
Who is Ahsoka?
Ahsoka was first introduced in the 2008 animated Clone Wars film and became a major character in the subsequent series as Anakin Skywalker's Padawan. She also appears in Star Wars Rebels with the codename Fulcrum and in a number of comics and novels in the series. Throughout the Clone Wars, Ahsoka emerged as a leader and hero for the Grand Army of the Republic. But, after the war, things take a turn for Ahsoka when she's framed for the bombing of the Jedi Council. As the Star Wars wiki explains:
Tano was framed for the bombing of the Jedi Temple hangar and other homicides, and she escaped into the Coruscant underworld to clear her name. Though she formed an unlikely alliance with Asajj Ventress, she was detained by Republic forces and was consequently barred from the Jedi Order. Ultimately, Skywalker uncovered the true culprit, Tano's friend, and fellow Padawan Barriss Offee, and prevented his former apprentice from being convicted of sedition. Nevertheless, the ordeal dislodged Tano's faith in the Jedi. She refused the Jedi Council's offer to rejoin the Order, instead departing in search of a new path.
Ahsoka then reappears in Jedi Rebels, where she's working to help fight the Galactic Empire and her old master Anakin Skywalker, now known as Darth Vader. As the Wiki explains:
Tano's efforts against the Empire brought her into contact with the Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Vader, who, unknown to her, was actually her former master, Anakin Skywalker, as well as the Imperial Inquisitors known as the Fifth Brother and the Seventh Sister. Following the mission to Malachor, Tano became lost to the rubble and shadows of the Sith temple and was believed by many including Jarrus and Bridger to have perished during a duel with Darth Vader.
However, Tano was unexpectedly saved from Vader's wrath by a future Ezra Bridger, who pulled her through a time portal into the world between worlds, a dimension of the Force connecting all time and space. After a confrontation with Darth Sidious, who desired access to the dimension, Tano returned to her time, promising Bridger that she would find him once she returned. After the end of the Galactic Civil War, Tano returned to a freed Lothal and joined Sabine Wren in her quest to find a missing Bridger, who had disappeared during the liberation of Lothal.
However, between the events of Clone Wars and Rebels, it's unclear what happened to Ahsoka before the events of Star Wars: A New Hope. With her return in Clone Wars, it appears we'll finally fill in this part of her story.
Where was she in The Rise of Skywalker and the events of the new trilogy?
Since we haven't seen Ahsoka's death in canon yet, it's unclear what happens to her after the events of Star Wars: Rebels and Return of the Jedi. However, The Rise of Skywalker gave us one small hint to her fate. In her climactic battle with Palpatine, Rey hears the voices of all the fallen Jedi who came before her. In that cacophony of voices, we briefly hear Ahsoka say, "As it guided us." This seems like a clear hint that Ahsoka somehow died before the events of The Rise of Skywalker.
What does this mean for the High Republic, the Obi-Wan series and her future in Star Wars stories?
While the timeline doesn't work for Ahsoka to appear in the High Republic (she was born in 36 BBY, hundreds of years after the events of Disney's next era), she was certainly around during what will be the events of the upcoming Obi-Wan series, which will take place in the years between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. This is yet another era that remains unexplored in Ashoka's story. The same could be said for the future of The Mandalorian, as it's possible the character was alive after the events of Return of the Jedi and before The Force Awakens.
What does the Clone Wars finale tell us about her presence in The Mandalorian?
In the final two episodes of Clone Wars, Ahsoka Tano returns to the Galactic Republic to convince the Jedi order to help Bo-Katan Kryze (a Mandalorian leader and wielder of the Darksaber later on) liberate Mandalore from Maul.
When liberating Mandalore, Ahsoka hunts Maul, only for him to meet on semi-peaceful terms in the throne room in Mandalore asking for Ahsoka’s help. Maul explains that he’s sure she’s felt the shift in the Force and that something terrible is coming. He says Skywalker is the key. After capturing Maul and liberating Mandalore, Ahsoka has one final conversation with Obi-Wan, where he keys her in on Anakin's erratic behavior and their suspicions of the Chancellor. Ahsoka almost tells Obi-Wan about Maul's warning, but decides to protect her former master.
Then, back on the ship, the events of Order 66 take place. Mace Windu dies, Anakin betrays the Jedi order and Palpatine reveals himself to be Darth Sidious. That's when Captain Rex gets Order 66 from Palpatine and hesitantly turns on Ahsoka along with the rest of her troops on board.
Ahsoka removes Rex's Inhibitor Chip (the chip forcing the troopers to follow Order 66 as seen earlier in the series). The two fight their way out of a classic exploding ship situation, racing Maul who also escapes. Setting up all three of their stories to continue in Star Wars: Rebels and ending on a scene with Vader finding Rex’s helmet and Ahsoka's blue lightsaber.
We know from the epilogue of Rebels that Ahsoka is still alive following the events of A New Hope. Given her major role in the events of Mandalore, and the reveal of the Darksaber in the Season One finale of The Mandalorian, it seemed all but certain these storylines would converge in the live-action Disney+ series.
Then, at the end of the third episode of The Mandalorian Season Two, we finally got confirmation that Ahsoka will make her appearance in the series. Mando helps Bo-Katan take down an Imperial ship that she believes might contain the Darksaber. Unfortunately, their work was for naught, but Bo-Katan still gives Mando the information he needs to continue his quest with Baby Yoda. She tells him: "Take the foundling to the city of Calodan on the forest planet of Corvus. there you will find Ahsoka Tano, tell her you were sent by Bo-Katan."
And so, with that, Mando and Baby Yoda set off to find Ahsoka Tano, bringing years of Star Wars lore together at last.
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