The Astonishing Connection Between Grand Admiral Thrawn and Dathomir - Unveiled in Ahsoka Episode 8

Warning! This article contains spoilers for Ahsoka episode 8.

Summary

Grand Admiral Thrawn forms an alliance with the Nightsisters of Dathomir, renowned for their exceptional green magic and ability to bring the deceased back to life. The Nightsisters' profound ties to Dathomir, a planet abundant with the Force, play a vital role in both their extraordinary abilities and Thrawn's strategic endeavors.

Thrawn seeks to restore the dominion of the Nightsisters' coven and potentially assemble a force of individuals who can wield the Force to assist in rejuvenating the Empire.

After narrowly evading capture in Peridea and navigating out of the secondary galaxy in the Ahsoka finale of Star Wars, Grand Admiral Thrawn's initial destination is the planet Dathomir. But what is the reason behind this choice? Following years of exile on Peridea, Grand Admiral Thrawn has meticulously planned every aspect of his return to Star Wars' primary galaxy. However, rather than announcing his triumphant arrival to the Imperial Remnant, who are relying on his leadership as seen in The Mandalorian season 3, he and his newly acquired allies have set course for the abandoned planet of Dathomir.

While on Peridea, Thrawn formed an alliance with the three Great Mothers of the Nightsisters - powerful individuals who harness the Force in a unique and mystical way, known as misty green magick. Unlike the Jedi, the Great Mothers rely on spells and rituals to combat their enemies, even possessing the ability to resurrect the deceased. Thrawn's collaboration with the Great Mothers has proven and continues to be highly advantageous for him. However, it is improbable that their assistance is purely driven by altruism. There must be something they stand to gain, and perhaps that something can be found on Dathomir.

Thrawn Goes To Dathomir Because It's The Home Of The Nightsisters

Dathomir, a desolate crimson planet situated in the Star Wars galaxy's Outer Rim, was once inhabited by the Dathomirian Nightsisters until they encountered genocide at the hands of the Separatists in the Clone Wars. The Ahsoka show has now confirmed that the Nightsisters of Dathomir are descendants of the Nightsisters of Peridea, who anciently traversed galaxies by riding Star Wars' celestial whales known as purrgil before eventually settling on Dathomir. Morgan Elsbeth, a Dathomirian Nightsister, possessed the ability to hear the calls of the Great Mothers despite being in a different galaxy, which explains her connection.

Although Morgan perished in "Part Eight: The Jedi, The Witch, and the Warlord" of the Ahsoka episode, the Great Mothers successfully accompanied Thrawn to the primary galaxy of Star Wars. As seen in Ahsoka, there were no indications of any other allies or Nightsisters as part of their coven on Peridea, making it logical for them to seek refuge on Dathomir. Dathomir holds a strong connection to the dark side of the Force and has historical ties to the Nightsisters. Considering the assistance and resources the Great Mothers provided to Thrawn, it was the least he could do to bring them back to their homeworld of Dathomir.

What Is Grand Admiral Thrawn Planning On Dathomir?

Grand Admiral Thrawn's formidable reputation as an adversary stems from his exceptional tactical skills. He consistently outsmarts his enemies, and what sets him apart is his willingness to acknowledge and learn from his mistakes. A pivotal moment in the Ahsoka episode 8 showcases this as Thrawn admits to being fooled by the heroics of a single Jedi, highlighting his previous failure to grasp the power of the Force. However, Thrawn now has a chance to rectify this shortcoming by returning the Great Mothers to Dathomir. This move could potentially provide him with an army of Force-wielders who may aid in his mission to revive the Empire. The Great Mothers have already demonstrated their usefulness, as they animated Thrawn's fallen soldiers to hinder Ahsoka and her companions. Dathomir's strategic location and isolation in the galaxy means that it might be a while before anyone discovers their presence. As revealed in the finale of Ahsoka, Thrawn is only just beginning his plans, and the New Republic will soon face an array of new challenges.

All episodes of Ahsoka are available to stream on Disney+.