The Epic Saga Lives On: Ahsoka's Incredible Journey Carries Forward the Skywalker Legacy

This article contains spoilers from Ahsoka episodes 1 & 2.

Summary

Ahsoka Tano, the former apprentice of Anakin Skywalker, exemplifies his strengths and embodies his accomplishments in training a Padawan without inheriting his flaws. Star Wars has revolutionized the concept of being a Skywalker, and Ahsoka is now an even more integral part of that heritage.

Ahsoka episodes 1 and 2 highlight her unorthodox Jedi nature and her ability to tread the line between light and dark, all while remaining a champion of the light. The reintroduction of the opening crawl emphasizes the significance of Ahsoka's character and her connection to the Skywalker saga.

Continuing the Skywalker legacy, Ahsoka takes place four years after Lucasfilm concluded the Skywalker saga. The first episode of Ahsoka captivated viewers with the iconic opening crawl seen in Star Wars. The decision to bring back the crawl holds great significance – a feature that had not been seen since the release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker in 2019. This choice, insisted upon by Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy, denotes that this Disney+ TV show holds immense importance and shares a strong bond with the Skywalker saga itself.

It's not really surprising in a way. Ahsoka Tano used to be Anakin Skywalker's apprentice, so she's just as much a part of the Skywalker legacy as Luke and Leia. In fact, some could argue that she should be seen as a Skywalker in her own right, especially considering how Star Wars has changed the definition in recent years.

Ahsoka Was Anakin Skywalker's Padawan - And She Exceeded Her Master

Anakin Skywalker was knighted shortly after the start of the Clone Wars, specifically after the Battle of Geonosis featured in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones. This battle was considered sufficient enough to serve as a Jedi trial. Soon after, Yoda arranged for Anakin to take on an apprentice. Yoda believed that by having a Padawan, Anakin would discover balance. However, this turned out to be a miscalculation. Nevertheless, Ahsoka, Anakin's Padawan, ultimately achieved the balance that eluded him until the time of his demise.

Despite their similar personalities, Ahsoka overcame Anakin's greatest weakness – his unhealthy attachments. While Anakin struggled with conflicting attachments to his wife Padmé and his dedication to the Jedi Order, which pulled him in opposing directions, Ahsoka was able to detach herself. She learned from her master and eventually outgrew him, departing from the Jedi and becoming an advocate for balance as time went on. She even adopted the codename "Fulcrum," a term that symbolizes the equilibrium between light and dark.

All this signifies that Ahsoka personifies the epitome of Anakin Skywalker. Despite her departure from the Jedi Order, Ahsoka remains the embodiment of his most remarkable achievement—that he successfully mentored a Padawan who did not inherit her master's weaknesses. Essentially, she serves as a depiction of what Anakin would have been like had he never succumbed to the dark side, persistently upholding the principles of the light, even during periods when the dark side held sway.

Star Wars Has Redefined What It Means To Be A Skywalker

Star Wars has revolutionized the concept of being a Skywalker, making Ahsoka an even more integral part of that legacy. In Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Rey embraced the name for herself. The Art of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker unveils that this unexpected turn of events was carefully planned from the very beginning, as evidenced by a meeting of the Lucasfilm Story Group that took place prior to the creation of the sequels. "I appreciate the notion that she will embody our Skywalker, while not being a Skywalker," remarked Lucasfilm's Pablo Hidalgo. "In our context, 'the Skywalker' is truly a metaphor, no longer restricted to a direct bloodline connection."

Being a Skywalker means being an agent of balance, according to the definition. Throughout history, there have been several Jedi who embodied this role, potentially dating back to the founder of the Jedi Order, the Prime Jedi. Following this interpretation, Ahsoka is considered a Skywalker herself. In episodes 1 and 2, there are indications that she is an unconventional Jedi, straying close to the dark side without fully embracing it. She possesses the ability of psychometry, a power associated with the dark side, allowing her to experience emotions from the past. She implies having used a dark side mind probe on Morgan to uncover the location of an ancient starmap. Despite these elements, Ahsoka firmly stands as a champion of the light.

This further justifies the inclusion of a crawl in Ahsoka episode 1. Ahsoka is not simply another Jedi; she is a significant part of Anakin Skywalker's legacy, fulfilling a similar role he was destined to play in the galaxy. There are even hints that Hayden Christensen himself will reprise his role and appear as a Force ghost, imparting wisdom to his former Padawan. The crawl emphasizes the importance of this Disney+ TV show and the significance of Ahsoka Tano herself. While the Skywalker saga may have concluded, its legacy endures.

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