The Mind-Blowing Twist You Didn't Know Ahsoka Tano's Character Took - Thanks to George Lucas' Unused Original Trilogy Idea!

This article contains spoilers for Ahsoka episode 5.

Summary

Ahsoka boldly integrates George Lucas' previously unused ideas from the original trilogy, such as the inclusion of flying whales that Lucas attempted to incorporate in earlier Star Wars films.

Ahsoka's utilization of space whales, known as purrgil, not only pays homage to Ralph McQuarrie's concept art but also demonstrates the show's appreciation for creatures and its strong link to past Star Wars designs.

The purrgil's ability to navigate through space and traverse between galaxies perfectly reflects George Lucas's theme of nature prevailing over technology. While Morgan Elsbeth struggles to control her advanced creation, Ahsoka effortlessly takes advantage of this ability by hitching a ride.

Ahsoka has taken an unused concept by George Lucas for the original Star Wars trilogy and has brought it to life in live-action, going beyond what Lucas himself had envisioned. This makes Ahsoka one of the most daring elements in Star Wars history, as both heroes and villains now embark on a journey to Peridea, a distant galaxy. Morgan Elsbeth and her allies believed that they were shielded from enemy pursuit after Baylan destroyed the starmap leading to Peridea, but they had underestimated Ahsoka's resourcefulness.

The starmap drew inspiration from ancient studies of migration routes followed by purrgil, the space whales in Star Wars. In a surprising turn of events, in the ending of Ahsoka episode 5, she approached one of these purrgil and used the Force to appeal for its assistance. Ahsoka and Huyang embarked on a journey, pursuing Morgan Elsbeth by hitching a ride with a majestic space whale. This concept offers a charming twist on Star Wars' fascination with extraordinary creatures, but its origins lie in ideas that captured George Lucas' imagination yet remained undeveloped.

Return Of The Jedi Concept Art Inspired Both Lothal & The Space Whales

Concept artist Ralph McQuarrie initially collaborated with Lucas to create designs for magnificent flying whales in the skies of Bespin. However, due to budget constraints, this concept proved to be unfeasible. Nevertheless, Lucas persisted in his fascination with flying whales. Further exploration of this idea can be seen in the concept art for Return of the Jedi and Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. Eventually, a modified version of McQuarrie's design made its way into Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, where the Kaminoans rode on creatures known as aiwhas, or air whales.

The animated series Star Wars Rebels also incorporated numerous of McQuarrie's ideas. For instance, the planet Lothal drew inspiration from concept art initially intended for Alderaan and a planet called Sicemon, which had originally been designed for Return of the Jedi and would have featured flying whales. Therefore, the appearance of the purrgil over the skies of Lothal in the final episodes of Star Wars Rebels can be seen as a striking homage to McQuarrie's visionary concepts. Over the course of Star Wars history, many previously unused McQuarrie concept art pieces have influenced various designs, and it is truly remarkable to witness Dave Filoni, whom many fans consider to be George Lucas's protégé, utilizing them in such a meaningful way.

Ahsoka Took George Lucas' Ideas One Step Further

The concept of flying whales was originally included in George Lucas's ideas for four Star Wars movies. However, the appearance of the Purrgil in the final product differs significantly from what was depicted in McQuarrie's art. The intention was to make them more resembling whales and to elevate them to a higher level. In Ahsoka and Rebels, the flying whales not only soar through the skies but also have the ability to fly in space and hyperspace. It has recently been revealed that the Purrgil can even travel between galaxies. These creatures hold the key to reaching the new galaxy where Thrawn and Ezra are stranded, transforming them from mere modes of transportation or wildlife into something much more significant.

Moreover, the inclusion of the Purrgil aligns with a central theme in George Lucas's Star Wars universe. They embody his belief that individuals who are connected to nature and wildlife will always prevail over those who rely on technology, as demonstrated in episode 5 of Ahsoka. While Morgan Elsbeth spends years constructing the Eye of Sion, Ahsoka simply catches a ride – an approach that would have surely delighted George Lucas.

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