The Epic Showdown: Unveiling the Untold Secrets of the Siege of Mandalore and Anakin Skywalker's Mysterious Whereabouts

Warning! This article contains spoilers for Ahsoka episode 5.

Summary

In Ahsoka episode 5, Anakin Skywalker returns as a Jedi General in the Clone Wars, donning his iconic armor, beautifully portrayed by Hayden Christensen. Additionally, Captain Rex from the Clone Wars makes a brief appearance, expertly voiced once again by Temuera Morrison from the prequel trilogy.

Episode 5 of Ahsoka skillfully incorporates the World Between Worlds, allowing viewers to journey alongside the main character as she recollects significant moments from the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars. This includes the impactful Siege of Mandalore and flashbacks to the Battle of Ryloth. With the introduction of Ahsoka, many fans had quietly hoped for a live-action interpretation of the Clone Wars in some capacity. Whether through allusions to Ahsoka's past as a Jedi or the portrayal of key wartime events, Ahsoka was anticipated to serve as both a continuation of The Clone Wars and a bridge to Star Wars Rebels.

After Ahsoka episode 4 concluded with the Jedi heroine stranded in the World Between Worlds, facing her former Master and Clone Wars General, fans eagerly anticipated the possibility of flashbacks revealing Anakin and Ahsoka's extensive Star Wars history in episode 5. As it turns out, this was indeed Dave Filoni's intention for Ahsoka episode 5. Through the World Between Worlds, Ahsoka's journey intertwined with her past, characters, and themes, presenting captivating live-action flashbacks from Star Wars: The Clone Wars. The pinnacle of this was the stunning recreation of the legendary Siege of Mandalore.

5 Clone Wars Season 7's Siege Of Mandalore Appeared In Ahsoka Episode 5

Ahsoka episode 5 recreated another iconic event from The Clone Wars, the Siege of Mandalore, in live-action. The episode successfully depicted the key elements of the siege, such as Ahsoka's attire and lightsabers, as well as the Mandalorian warriors emulating Darth Maul. It is evident that Ahsoka episode 5 effectively brought the Siege of Mandalore to life in the Star Wars universe.

In The Clone Wars season 7, the Siege of Mandalore served as the final storyline. Ahsoka was approached by Bo-Katan Kryze from The Mandalorian to seek the Republic's assistance in reclaiming Mandalore from Darth Maul. The siege occurred during the events of Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, providing an explanation for Ahsoka's absence in the film and Anakin's absence in the final arc of The Clone Wars. Ahsoka, along with Captain Rex and Bo-Katan, joined forces with the 501st Clone Battalion to free Mandalore from Maul's control.

Given that the Siege of Mandalore played such a crucial role in Ahsoka's Star Wars journey, it only makes sense for Ahsoka episode 5 to capture its essence. Despite leaving the Jedi Order well before the Siege of Mandalore, Ahsoka's participation in the climactic battle of the Clone Wars marked one of her final acts as a Jedi prior to the events of Order 66. With Ahsoka episode 5's flashbacks primarily focused on her quest to restore balance in the Force and her commitment to fighting in the New Republic, revisiting the Siege of Mandalore from The Clone Wars provided the ideal backdrop to drive home this overarching theme.

4 Ahsoka Episode 5 Saw The Clone Wars' General Anakin Skywalker Return

In Ahsoka episode 4, Hayden Christensen reprised his role as Anakin Skywalker. However, Ahsoka episode 5 took it even further, showcasing Anakin during his prime as a Jedi General of the Clone Wars. In Dave Filoni's animated series The Clone Wars, Anakin frequently appeared in his Jedi General armor. This particular attire became closely associated with Anakin's character in the animation, leading many to hope for Christensen to don the outfit in live-action. Following a tense confrontation between Anakin and Ahsoka within the World Between Worlds, it became evident that this desire would finally come true in Ahsoka episode 5.

In Ahsoka episode 5, the long-awaited moment arrived as Hayden Christensen appeared in live-action wearing the iconic outfit for the first time. Portraying the revered General who had valiantly fought against the Separatists during the Clone Wars, Christensen embodied Anakin Skywalker at the pinnacle of his power. With his 501st Clone Battalion, he fearlessly charged the Separatist frontlines, wielding his blue lightsaber and showcasing his legendary armor in live-action. Interweaving animation and live-action seamlessly, Ahsoka episode 5 masterfully captured the essence of Anakin Skywalker, with Christensen embodying the character's iconic armor while clad in the distinctive black Jedi robes. This unforgettable portrayal became possible through Ahsoka's transformative journey in the World Between Worlds.

3 Ahsoka Episode 5 Featured Clone Wars' Captain Rex

In addition to Clone Wars-era Anakin Skywalker, another beloved character from the animated show made a special appearance alongside young Ahsoka in episode 5. During a flashback to a memorable event from Season 7 of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, clone Captain Rex was brought to life in live-action form. Fans had long anticipated Rex's arrival in the live-action series, considering the strong bond he shared with Ahsoka throughout both Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels. Finally, in Ahsoka episode 5, this much-awaited moment became a reality as Rex made a delightful cameo in the Clone Wars flashbacks within the World Between Worlds.

Despite being portrayed by Dee Bradley Baker in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels, original clone actor Temuera Morrison made a comeback as Ahsoka in George Lucas' Star Wars prequel trilogy. While Baker's exceptional performance as the clones in Star Wars animation was widely appreciated, it was a special treat for Clone Wars fans to witness Morrison bring his character to life, even if only through his voice. As Rex continued to inspire his best friend in battle, just as he had done countless times during the war, episode 5 of Ahsoka offered yet another Easter egg for fans of Filoni's Clone Wars.

2 Ahsoka Returned To The Battle Of Ryloth In Ahsoka Episode

In addition to Anakin and Rex, the main characters from the Clone Wars, Ahsoka episode 5 also brought back several well-known locations and events from the animated series. The first of these was initially unclear, but through hints in the scenes, it became apparent which part of the Clone Wars was being portrayed in the live-action format. At first, the battle scene was shrouded in a haze of war, with Anakin, Ahsoka, and the clones bravely charging towards unseen Separatist droids while dodging explosions, blaster fire, and witnessing the horrors of the devastating war that ravaged the galaxy.

During a brief respite, Anakin and Ahsoka met with other leaders amidst the clearing fog, attending to their wounded. In these moments, Twi'lek soldiers could be seen assisting injured comrades and conversing with Anakin Skywalker before joining him, his Padawan, and the clones in battle. These interactions strongly hinted at flashbacks to the Battle of Ryloth, a conflict depicted in season 1 of Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

Supporting this theory was the presence of clone troopers in Anakin and Ahsoka's division during the flashback. These clones were still wearing Phase I armor, which had not been replaced with Phase II gear until around season 3 of The Clone Wars. Their consistent use of Phase I armor throughout the Battle of Ryloth, combined with other contextual clues in Ahsoka episode 5, firmly places this particular scene on the Twi'lek homeworld.

1 Ahsoka Episode 5 Features A Darth Maul Easter Egg

In Ahsoka episode 5, during the Siege of Mandalore, there is a hidden reference to Darth Maul. Ahsoka is seen fighting against the enemy forces on Mandalore, and one of the soldiers stands out in Maul-inspired Mandalorian armor from The Clone Wars season 7. This is a clear nod to Maul, who was the leader of Mandalore during the Siege. Given Maul's significant role in Ahsoka's final battle in the Clone Wars, this Easter egg in Ahsoka episode 5's flashbacks is a clever way to connect the character's Star Wars journey. New episodes of Ahsoka are released every Tuesday at 6pm PT / 9pm ET on Disney+.