Analyzing the Resonance Between Grand Admiral Thrawn's Jedi Trap and Palpatine's Clone Wars Approach

Article Overview

Thrawn's strategies in "Ahsoka" mirror Palpatine's schemes during the Clone Wars, proving his genius and ability to transform the Republic into his Empire.

Thrawn employs a strategy similar to Palpatine's in "Revenge of the Sith," ensnaring Ahsoka with an enticing trap that includes a secluded locale, a formidable adversary, and a favorable outcome for himself. Despite not possessing Force powers, Thrawn demonstrates his keen understanding of Palpatine's cunning and pays homage to his former Emperor by adopting comparable tactics in his own machinations.

Grand Admiral Thrawn's strategies in Ahsoka mirrored Palpatine's schemes during the Clone Wars. Palpatine, secretly the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, orchestrated the entire Clone Wars in a massive plot. This plot transformed the Republic into his new Empire, described as the "perfect Jedi trap". Twitter user @XWnHIST pointed out that Thrawn's trap for Ahsoka on Peridea closely resembled Palpatine's schemes as depicted in the Revenge of the Sith novelization by Matt Stover. Thrawn and Palpatine, both dark geniuses, had a close relationship during the Dark Times. Therefore, it is reasonable to speculate that Thrawn may have replicated Palpatine's "perfect Jedi trap" as a fundamental strategy in the new Star Wars show.

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The Clone Wars Were The Perfect Jedi Trap

Obi-Wan vs Grievous Is A Core Example

In Stover's Revenge of the Sith novelization, the Battle of Utapau illustrates Palpatine's strategic approach throughout the Clone Wars. The book outlines four essential elements for a successful Jedi trap. First, a tempting lure is needed, such as General Grievous taking refuge on Utapau. Second, the trap should be positioned in a secluded location with limited scope for action, ensuring minimal consequences in terms of damage or destruction. Utapau, forcibly annexed by the Separatists and located in the Outer Rim, serves as an ideal example.

Third, a formidable figure is required to eliminate the Jedi, ideally one who also serves as the bait, as Grievous did. This entices the targeted Jedi, in this case Obi-Wan Kenobi, to advance further. It is also advantageous to have stationed forces nearby to impede any potential escape. Lastly, the final ingredient is to establish a favorable outcome that benefits Palpatine. By creating a win-win scenario and affording the possibility of a third positive outcome, the trap becomes even more effective. If Grievous succeeds in killing Kenobi, it is a victory for Palpatine. However, if Kenobi emerges triumphant (as he did), it spares Palpatine from the need to confront Grievous later. In either situation, Kenobi is dispatched from Coruscant, enabling Palpatine to manipulate Anakin Skywalker towards the dark side and transform him into Darth Vader.

Grand Admiral Thrawn Trapped Ahsoka Using The Same Strategy

Thrawn's Trap For Ahsoka Mirrors The Clone Wars

Ahsoka becomes a victim of Palpatine's "perfect Jedi trap" as Thrawn executes the four stages with precision. Firstly, Thrawn employs an irresistible lure in the form of Ezra Bridger, enabling Sabine to depart and locate him. This cunning strategy ensures Ahsoka's diversion from reaching the Nightsisters' temple or confronting Thrawn's Star Destroyer directly. Moreover, it restricts her actions to a desolate area, rendering any potential harm inconsequential. Thrawn further dispatches the Dark Jedi Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati to eliminate the Jedi, bolstered by a formidable force of troopers lying in wait.

Lastly, Grand Admiral Thrawn successfully devised a win-win scenario, resulting in a third positive outcome. Despite the Dark Jedi's failure to defeat the Jedi, Thrawn had no concerns about either faction due to Ahsoka's intervention. Moreover, this situation provided Thrawn with valuable time for his Star Destroyer to prepare for departure from Peridea, enabling the Grand Admiral to finally emerge from years of exile and return to the well-known Star Wars galaxy – precisely what the Jedi had aimed to prevent. Consequently, Thrawn's triumph further exemplifies the effectiveness of Palpatine's strategies during the Clone Wars.

Thrawn Had Learned The Best Way To Deal With Jedi

The Grand Admiral Respected His Emperor's Genius

Grand Admiral Thrawn, though lacking in the Force himself, has found alternative ways to compensate for this deficiency. One such method is his recent alliance with the Nightsisters, powerful Force witches who possess dark magicks. Remarkably, Thrawn seems to have adopted some of the late Palpatine's strategies against the Jedi, showcasing his admiration for the Emperor whom he faithfully served. This admiration is not surprising, considering Thrawn's meticulous study of history to effectively defeat his enemies. Whether intentional or not, the parallel between Thrawn's actions and Palpatine's schemes in the Star Wars canon is undeniably remarkable.

Editor's P/S

As an enthusiastic fan, I am thrilled to see the connections between Grand Admiral Thrawn's Jedi trap and Palpatine's Clone Wars approach. Thrawn's strategic brilliance is on full display as he masterfully executes a trap that mirrors the Jedi trap of the Clone Wars. His ability to transform the Republic into his Empire is a testament to his genius and cunning.

Thrawn's use of a secluded location, a formidable adversary, and a favorable outcome for himself all echo Palpatine's schemes during the Clone Wars. It is clear that Thrawn has a deep understanding of Palpatine's tactics and pays homage to his former Emperor by adopting similar strategies in his own machinations. This connection between the two characters adds depth and complexity to the Star Wars universe and makes for a fascinating exploration of the dark side of the Force.