The Incredible Revelation in Ahsoka's Role: Star Wars Fans Stunned After 5-Year Debate

Warning! This article contains spoilers for Ahsoka episodes 1 and 2.

Summary

Ahsoka confirms that the epilogue of Star Wars Rebels occurs between the years 9 and 12 ABY, aligning it with the timeline of The Mandalorian and the Mandoverse on Disney+. The previously suggested placement of the Rebels' epilogue in 5 ABY has been revised, as Ahsoka has incorporated and reimagined it within her own narrative.

The confirmed timeline reveals that a significant amount of time has passed since Ezra Bridger and Grand Admiral Thrawn went missing, leaving many unanswered questions and mysteries to be addressed in the upcoming series Ahsoka. Finally settling a long-held debate, Ahsoka clarifies the placement of Star Wars Rebels' epilogue on the franchise timeline. Set after the events of Rebels season 4, Ahsoka follows the story of certain members of the Ghost crew, including Sabine Wren, a Mandalorian-turned-Jedi Padawan, and General Hera Syndulla, as they navigate the galaxy during the rule of the New Republic. Years after the final Battle of Lothal, Ahsoka Tano embarks on a quest to find the missing Imperial Grand Admiral Thrawn and Ezra Bridger, the young Jedi who defeated him. This storyline was foreshadowed in Rebels' epilogue, making it a natural progression for Ahsoka.

The issue with Rebels' animated epilogue is not the story beats it hinted at, but rather the uncertainty surrounding when these moments occurred. The Star Wars timeline is split between events pre and post- destruction of the first Death Star. Consequently, events are categorized as either "Before the Battle of Yavin" (BBY) or "After the Battle of Yavin" (ABY). While it is mentioned that Rebels' epilogue occurs sometime after the Battle of Endor in 4 ABY, the exact timing remains unclear. Lothal had been rebuilt, Sabine sported a new hairstyle, Ahsoka Tano looked stunning in a white robe, and Hera had a son whose age was unverified. However, Ahsoka has now managed to narrow down the possible timeframes.

Ahsoka Confirms How Rebels' Epilogue Fits Into The Star Wars Timeline

Ahsoka is a part of the Mandoverse, a collection of stories on Disney+ that portray the events in the galaxy between the original Star Wars trilogy and the sequel trilogy. The Mandoverse began with The Mandalorian season 1, which is set in 9 ABY, five years after the Battle of Endor. The timeline for The Mandalorian seasons 2 and 3 is uncertain, but it can be assumed that they take place between 9-12 ABY. Lucasfilm has confirmed that Ahsoka is concurrent with The Mandalorian season 3, which makes sense considering it serves as a spinoff after Ahsoka's live-action debut in season 2.

Knowing that Ahsoka takes place between 9-12 ABY also indicates that the Star Wars Rebels epilogue occurs within that time range. Ahsoka has essentially incorporated and modified the Rebels epilogue into its own narrative. While there are a few adjustments and revisions, particularly regarding Sabine and Ahsoka's journey, the newly confirmed timeline is logical. The reconstruction of Lothal would have required significant effort after the Empire's devastation, Ahsoka needed time to prepare herself for another challenging quest after her encounter with Darth Vader and subsequent rescue, and Sabine needed time to come to terms with Ezra's disappearance before feeling ready to embark on a mission to find him.

Star Wars Had Previously Hinted Rebels' Epilogue Was Earlier

Ahsoka premiered after Star Wars had hinted that Rebels’ epilogue occurred before 9 ABY. The official canon reference book, Star Wars: Timelines, placed the epilogue in 5 ABY. This placement made sense as Rebels’ final season took place between 1-0 BBY, allowing time for the characters to recover before their mission to find Ezra. In the epilogue, Hera’s son, Jacen Syndulla, would have been around five years old. However, due to the animated medium, there was room for interpretation.

The confirmed timeline now reveals that Ezra Bridger and Grand Admiral Thrawn have been missing for a decade or possibly longer. During this time, significant changes have occurred politically in the galaxy and for each member of the Ghost crew. The fate of Thrawn and Ezra remains uncertain, as well as how they will react to returning home. Ahsoka still has many mysteries from Star Wars Rebels to uncover, and the answers may not be as straightforward as once believed.

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