The Jaw-Dropping Twist You Missed in Star Wars' Epic Thrawn Finale!
Thrawn's master plan had been cleverly hinted at in previous episodes, with Ahsoka openly referring to his agents as the enigmatic 'Night Troopers' The revelation of Thrawn's grand scheme was subtly foreshadowed, adding depth and intrigue to the thrilling finale of Star Wars
Warning! This article contains spoilers for Ahsoka episode 8.
Summary
Content must be written in English: In the season 1 finale of Ahsoka, zombie stormtroopers are introduced, a concept inspired by Star Wars Legends and manifested through the dark side of the Force. Prior to this, a previous episode of Ahsoka features Thrawn's stormtroopers, known as Night Troopers, who exhibit battle-worn and mended armor, hinting at their affiliation with the Nightsisters.
The Inquisitor Marrok's mysterious resurrection in an earlier episode hints at the existence of the Night Troopers.
In a surprising turn of events, Ahsoka's season 1 finale introduced zombie stormtroopers, which were foreshadowed in previous episodes. The concept of undead stormtroopers has been present in the Star Wars Legends continuity, first appearing in Joe Schreiber's 2009 horror novel Death Troopers. Interestingly, both versions of these undead stormtroopers are transformed into zombies through the influence of the dark side of the Force.
In Ahsoka episode 8 titled "Part Eight: The Jedi, The Witch, and The Warlord," a group of stormtroopers under Thrawn's command are dispatched to confront Ahsoka Tano, Ezra Bridger, and Sabine Wren. They are well aware that they stand no chance against the powerful Jedi trio. However, their defeat is short-lived as the dark magic abilities of the Great Mothers, a trio of Dathomirian Nightsister Witches, resurrects them as nearly invincible zombies. This disturbing use of the stormtroopers was hinted at in previous Ahsoka episodes.
Ahsoka Episode 6 Openly Called Thrawn's Agents "Night Troopers"
In "Part Six: Far, Far Away," Grand Admiral Thrawn and his contingent of stormtroopers, referred to as Night Troopers, emerge alongside him. These stormtroopers had been sent to Peridea by Ezra Bridger and a group of purrgil during the series finale of Star Wars Rebels. Stranded on the extragalactic world, they relied solely on the resources aboard Thrawn's flagship, the Chimaera, for survival. Their protective armor, showing signs of wear and tear, features cracks and missing pieces, held together or replaced by gold and red ribbons. Interestingly, the Night Troopers are closely associated with the Nightsisters, allies of Thrawn, whose origins are established on Peridea in the new lore. Notably, a group of Night Troopers undergo a transformation akin to Nightsister zombies, reminiscent of those seen in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Jedi: Fallen Order. This connection adds an intriguing layer of foreshadowing to their name.
Thrawn's Night Troopers Were Foreshadowed Even Further Back
The Night Troopers were teased two episodes before their introduction in "Ahsoka: Part Four - Fallen Jedi." The enigmatic former Imperial Inquisitor Marrok, who is potentially a magick-enhanced Nightbrother or even a zombified Inquisitor, releases a green mist when struck down by Ahsoka Tano. It is presumed that Marrok's resurrection was facilitated by Morgan Elsbeth, but the Great Mothers possess a greater ability to revive deceased beings, as demonstrated by their creation of the Night Troopers. With the arrival of Thrawn and the Great Mothers on Dathomir in the conclusion of Ahsoka, it is likely that the New Republic will soon have to face more of these zombified minions.
All episodes of Ahsoka can be streamed on Disney+.
