The Enigmatic Powers of Shin Hati Unveiled: Unraveling the Dark Jedi Padawan's Origin & Cast

WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for Ahsoka episode 4.

Summary

Ahsoka Tano's latest adversary, Shin Hati, is a Dark Jedi Padawan who skillfully brandishes an orange lightsaber and fights alongside Baylan Skoll. While not quite on par with Ahsoka Tano in terms of power, Shin Hati surpasses Sabine Wren in strength.

Shin's background remains unknown, but her commitment to Baylan's mission to resurrect Grand Admiral Thrawn is steadfast. Ahsoka's apprentice, Shin Hati, is an unconventional Dark Jedi Padawan in the Star Wars universe. Armed with a distinct orange lightsaber, she fights alongside Baylan Skoll to bring back Thrawn. Taking place approximately a decade after the Battle of Yavin, Ahsoka's story cannot include the typical Star Wars adversaries. The Sith only resurface many years later in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, and the Inquisitors have disbanded with the Empire's downfall. The placement of Ahsoka's character in the Star Wars timeline allows for the introduction of new adversaries, namely Baylan and Shin.

The fourth episode of Ahsoka showcased a rematch between Shin Hati and Sabine Wren, solidifying the fact that the Dark Jedi apprentice surpasses Ahsoka's Padawan in strength. If it wasn't for Sabine's collection of Mandalorian weaponry, their second duel would have concluded in the same manner as their first encounter. Shin's enigmatic nature matches her considerable power, and her connection to Baylan holds the key to unraveling her character. Shin Hati's association with Baylan Skoll forms one of the most fascinating master-apprentice alliances in the Star Wars universe.

Shin Hati Is Baylan's Dark Jedi Padawan

Shin Hati, a character in Ahsoka, serves as the Padawan of Baylan Skoll, one of the antagonists. It is not uncommon for Force-sensitive villains to take on apprentices, for example, Darth Sidious trained Darth Maul and Count Dooku trained Asajj Ventress. However, it is worth noting that Baylan Skoll is not a Sith, and therefore Shin Hati is not a Sith either. The reason for Baylan taking on a Padawan may be related to his own teachings in the ways of the Force. After leaving the Jedi Order following the Clone Wars, Baylan likely recognizes the importance of passing on his knowledge, even if he no longer follows the Jedi Way.

In the new Star Wars canon, Baylan Skoll can be considered as the first Dark Jedi, since terms such as Sith or Inquisitor do not apply to him. This categorizes Shin Hati as a Dark Jedi Padawan. Regardless of the official designation, Shin Hati stands out as a unique Star Wars villain due to her role as an apprentice to a fallen Jedi. Unlike many other villains who adhere to the Sith Rule of Two, Baylan and Shin's relationship is distinct, although their allegiance lies closer to the dark side rather than the Jedi Way.

In Ahsoka episode 4, Baylan Skoll's Jedi past was uncovered, yet Shin Hati's background remains unknown. Shin appears to be around the same age as Sabine Wren, suggesting that she was never a part of the Jedi Order. It is likely that Baylan discovered her after the Jedi Order's downfall and trained her. It is possible that Shin's training with Baylan began around the same time as Sabine's training with Ahsoka, creating a parallel between the two apprentices in the Ahsoka show.

Despite the similarities between Shin and her master, such as their desire to bring back Grand Admiral Thrawn and change the galaxy, it is intriguing to discover why Shin is following Baylan and why she believes the Empire's return would have positive outcomes. Many Star Wars villains, like the Inquisitors and Baylan himself, were once Jedi who lost their faith in the Order. However, Shin's reasons for aligning herself with Baylan in the mission to bring Thrawn back must be more personal. Presuming Baylan was the only one to teach Shin the ways of the Force, she must possess a deep loyalty to the fallen Jedi.

Shin Hati's Orange Lightsaber Makes Her A Fierce Combatant

Huyang claimed that Baylan's Jedi lightsaber differed from any other lightsabers used by the Jedi Order in the past 500 years, specifically referring to its orange blade. In the current Star Wars canon, an orange lightsaber is unprecedented, and its unique characteristics remain unclear. Unlike the Expanded Universe, where each kyber crystal color had a specific meaning, not all lightsaber colors hold significance in the Star Wars canon. For instance, a red kyber crystal signifies that a regular crystal has been "bled," whereas a green lightsaber does not carry any inherent meaning about its wielder.

It is possible that the orange lightsaber has its own lore, similar to the red or white ones. Ahsoka's white lightsaber, for instance, resulted from purifying the red blade of an Inquisitor. It could be speculated that an orange crystal was once a red crystal that underwent incomplete purification. Additionally, Shin Hati, Baylan's apprentice, wields the same lightsaber. If the orange light possesses certain peculiarities, it would offer an explanation for Shin's skillful and swift use of the rapier-like lightsaber style. Shin's impressive speed during her duel with Sabine, coupled with her current greater Force abilities, further emphasizes her formidable strength.

Shin Hati Is Strong In The Dark Side - But Not Stronger Than Ahsoka

Shin effortlessly defeated Sabine twice, showcasing her considerable power. While it is yet to be determined if Sabine possesses true Force abilities, she is skilled in lightsaber combat. Sabine failed to penetrate Shin's defenses and only managed to cause minimal damage with the aid of Mandalorian gadgets. The extent of Shin's powers compared to an Inquisitor remains unclear, but she proved to be far superior to New Republic soldiers. However, it is important to note that Shin falls short in power compared to Baylan Skoll and Ahsoka Tano.

Ahsoka unleashed a telekinetic Force attack on Shin, rendering her unable to retaliate and sending her crashing into a wall. Typically, telekinetic attacks are ineffective when faced with an equally powerful Force-sensitive opponent. Consequently, battles between Force-sensitive warriors usually hinge on their lightsaber skills rather than Force pushes. In contrast, Baylan Skoll emerged victorious over Ahsoka Tano in combat. Shin is explicitly portrayed as Sabine's rival, whereas Baylan represents the obstacle that Ahsoka must conquer.

Who Plays Shin Hati In Ahsoka

The similarities between Shin Hati and Darth Maul are striking, as both served as apprentices to formidable villains. Just like Darth Maul's iconic "cool new lightsaber" in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Shin incorporates this captivating element into his character. However, the manner in which Ahsoka develops Shin's character surpasses Episode I's treatment of Maul. It remains uncertain whether Shin will emerge as a recurring Star Wars antagonist or merely someone for Sabine Wren to conquer by the story's end. While a redemption arc cannot be ruled out, neither Baylan nor Shin exhibit any interest in aiding the New Republic.

Ivanna Sakhno portrays the character Shin Hati in the series Ahsoka. Prior to her involvement in Ahsoka, the talented Ukrainian actress gained recognition for her performances as Kat Monroe in the High Fidelity series, Paulini in The Reunion mini-series, and Nadedja in The Spy Who Dumped Me. Some of Sakhno's notable movie roles include Mia in Let It Snow, Cadet Viktoriya in Pacific Rim Uprising, and Morgan Rose in Can't Take It Back. She made her television debut in the Ukrainian series Lesya + Roma in 2005, while her first film role was in the biopic Ivan the Powerful (2013). Ivanna Sakhno was announced as Shin Hati in Ahsoka in November 2021.

Ahsoka releases new episodes Tuesdays at 6pm PT / 9pm ET on Disney+.