The Enigma Unveiled: Ahsoka's Elusive Adversaries Resemble Dave Filoni's Iconic Star Wars Trademark
Ahsoka's enigmatic foes, Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati, embrace Dave Filoni's enduring Star Wars tradition Norse mythology's Jötnar wolves inspire their names, reflecting Filoni's profound affinity for these majestic creatures
The mystery antagonists featured in the upcoming Ahsoka series follow a prominent pattern established by Dave Filoni in the Star Wars franchise. Filoni, the showrunner, writer, and director of Ahsoka, made his debut in the Star Wars universe in the early 2000s. He was approached by Lucasfilm after his work on Nickelodeon's Avatar: The Last Airbender, with the opportunity to collaborate with George Lucas on the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
Since then, Filoni's influence and involvement with Lucasfilm have steadily grown. Having successfully concluded The Clone Wars and overseeing its spiritual successor, Star Wars Rebels, Filoni has collaborated with Lucasfilm for nearly two decades. Transitioning into the realm of live-action with The Mandalorian, Filoni's journey in the Star Wars universe will continue with Ahsoka and extend to his own theatrical film set in the Mandalorian era. In all of Filoni's projects, one consistent element derived from his personal life has been clearly evident: the inclusion of wolves. This thematic element will persist in Ahsoka through its villains, Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati.
Baylan Skoll & Shin Hati Are Named After The Norse Jötnar Wolves
In the Ahsoka show, the central character will be pursued by two villainous individuals wielding orange lightsabers: Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati. These characters remain largely enigmatic and their mysteries are expected to persist until the show's release. However, one intriguing aspect that has been revealed about them is their surnames, Skoll and Hati, which align with Filoni's inclination to incorporate wolf symbolism in Star Wars narratives.
In Ancient Norse mythology, Sköll and Hati were known as the two Jötnar (Giants) in the form of wolves. According to the tales, Skoll and Hati perpetually chased Sól and Mani, the Norse gods symbolizing the sun and the moon, across the sky. It was believed that the onset of Ragnarök, the apocalyptic event, would occur when Sköll and Hati successfully caught their prey. While it remains uncertain if these narratives will directly influence the portrayal of Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati, their names demonstrate Filoni's continued affinity for infusing his Star Wars stories with wolf symbolism.
Dave Filoni’s Love Of Wolves Is Prevalent Throughout Star Wars
This is just the latest example of Filoni's frequent use of wolf references in his Star Wars projects. Some references are more obvious than others, like Filoni's own character in The Mandalorian, a New Republic pilot named Trapper Wolf. The connection to Ahsoka is even more pronounced as Filoni has depicted wolves as having a crucial role in the mystical aspects of the Force. Wolves have been seen on the enigmatic planet of Mortis and have played a key part in accessing the World Between Worlds. These Force connections through Filoni's stories also extend to the loth-wolves, a prominent species in Star Wars Rebels.
Even in Filoni's earlier works, there were wolf-related elements. It's widely known that Filoni's favorite prequel-era Jedi is Plo Koon, which gave him the creative freedom to develop the Jedi's clone battalion in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Filoni chose to name this squad "The Wolfpack," with Commander Wolffe as their leader. Throughout the Star Wars universe, wolves are a recurring element thanks to Filoni's storytelling choices. He spoke about his motivations behind this in an interview with Comicon.com.
"They often face criticism, yet at times they are viewed as educators... they possess a certain symbolism that, in my perspective, bears resemblance to the Force. Just like the Force, these creatures possess both a shadowy aspect and an enlightening aspect. Their narratives seem to encompass both darkness and illumination."
This reasoning sheds light on Filoni's persistent choice of wolves as mentors for Jedi in his Star Wars narratives. The trend will carry on with Ahsoka, as the series reveals the tales of Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati."
