The Astonishing Transformation of Morgan Elsbeth: Unveiling the Enigma of Her Unparalleled Metamorphosis

Warning! This article contains spoilers for Ahsoka episode 8.

Summary

In episode 8 of Ahsoka, Morgan Elsbeth was bestowed with the dark side's power by the Great Mothers, resulting in a transformation and a heightened link to the Nightsisters' collective magic.

Morgan Elsbeth's strength grew considerably with the addition of the shadows and the Blade of Talzin, ultimately rendering her a formidable adversary for Ahsoka Tano.

Morgan's commitment to the Nightsister community, as shown by the oath she swore to the Great Mothers, may have played a role in her downfall at the hands of Grand Admiral Thrawn. Ahsoka's season 1 finale was action-packed and filled with lore details, but one particularly perplexing aspect was what happened to Nightsister Morgan Elsbeth. Throughout the episode, she proved to be a formidable opponent for Ahsoka Tano and Sabine Wren, raising more questions as her character developed. The introduction of the three Nightsister Great Mothers, Klothow, Aktropaw, and Lakesis, added further intrigue to Morgan's story as she answered their call across the galaxy.

The Nightsisters of Dathomir were a coven of witches who harnessed the power of the Force through magick. Their abilities, however, were connected to the dark side, making them inaccessible even to figures like Emperor Palpatine. During the final year of the Clone Wars, the majority of the Nightsisters were brutally annihilated as General Grievous launched an attack on Dathomir, resulting in a significant reduction in their population. It is known that Morgan Elsbeth managed to survive and later joined forces with Grand Admiral Thrawn and the Empire, seeking to attain even greater power following the downfall of the Republic.

The Nightsister Great Mothers Infused Morgan With The Dark Side

In Ahsoka episode 8, Morgan Elsbeth is rewarded by the Great Mothers with the "gift of shadows," altering her face and turning her eyes black. Through the infusion of ichor, also known as the power of the dark side, Morgan becomes even more formidable, especially with the Blade of Talzin in her possession. The Nightsister magick, which aligns with the dark side of the Force, focuses its energy on physically transforming Morgan, granting her an increased level of danger. According to Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels, the Nightsisters of Dathomir have the ability to influence the living world even after death. Not only can they revive the dead, as seen with the Night Troopers in Ahsoka episode 8, but they can also possess living beings. This was witnessed in Rebels season 3 when Darth Maul entices Sabine Wren and Kanan Jarrus to Dathomir. Elsbeth's transformation not only resembles other Nightsisters in the Star Wars canon, but it also grants her access to the same kind of communal magick that was previously unavailable to her.

Morgan Advanced In Power As A Nightsister

After receiving the gift of the shadows, Morgan Elsbeth's power significantly increased. In her initial appearance in season 2 of The Mandalorian, Ahsoka Tano struggled to defeat her, but ultimately emerged victorious. However, their rematch in the finale of Ahsoka season 1 revealed a more evenly matched duel. The balance seemed to shift when the resurrected Night Troopers arrived to assist Elsbeth in defeating Ahsoka. The only reason Morgan lost to Ahsoka was because Sabine Wren made the choice not to join Ezra Bridger on Grand Admiral Thrawn's ship.

The Blade of Talzin also played a significant role in Morgan Elsbeth's rise in power. As a relic of the Nightsisters, this blade allowed her to swiftly master its use, as it emitted green flames along its metal edge. Although the Blade of Talzin is not a lightsaber, it had the ability to deflect Jedi weapons like beskar, and even cut through one of Ahsoka's hilts. If this sword is a type of Force-infused weapon, it may serve as the Nightsisters' equivalent to a lightsaber, bestowed upon only a select few.

Nightsister Magick Is Tied To Community, Explaining Morgan's Oaths

Morgan Elsbeth's transformation in Ahsoka episode 8 was marked by an important moment - the oath she made before receiving a gift from the Great Mothers. Fans familiar with The Clone Wars may have recognized that the oath Morgan swore was the same one Mother Talzin had Asajj Ventress recite when she was reintegrated into the coven on Dathomir. This suggests that Morgan was already acquainted with the oath and that it required a commitment to her fellow sisters and the Nightsister community as a whole.

Thrawn's decision to leave Morgan behind might have been influenced by her oath. One part of the oath involved forsaking her former life, including any loyalty she may have had to Thrawn. If Morgan had pledged herself to the Nightsisters, Thrawn could have viewed this as her wavering in her allegiance to him. Considering Thrawn's ability to inspire intense loyalty from his troops - to the extent that Night Troopers willingly turned into zombies - it's understandable why he would be cautious about an oath like this.

Morgan's Experience Was A Dark Baptism

When Morgan Elsbeth took the oath, she understood that she was making a deeper commitment to the Nightsisters' communal magick. The oath symbolized her initiation into the Nightsister clan, transforming her into a more dedicated member. In addition to pledging loyalty to the Nightsisters, she vowed to prioritize the well-being of the entire community. She ceased to be an individual survivor and became part of a sisterhood. Grand Admiral Thrawn, who valued loyalty among his ranks, might have seen this oath and subsequent transformation as problematic for his own goals.

Losing a villain like Morgan Elsbeth is a setback for Thrawn's cause. However, the three Great Mothers are expected to reveal more about their larger plan and their magick in the upcoming second season of Ahsoka. Thrawn's willingness to sacrifice a loyal servant like Morgan suggests a potential shift in dynamics with the Great Mothers now back in the main Star Wars galaxy as antagonists. Ahsoka only scratched the surface of the capabilities of the Great Mothers, and future stories can explore their power in ways that Morgan Elsbeth never could.

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