The Shocking Reason behind the Downfall of the New Republic in Star Wars
The downfall of the New Republic: Ahsoka exposes the fatal flaws within the system, shedding light on the Republic's inability to hold prisoners and the pervasive presence of Imperial sympathizers
Summary
The New Republic's weakness and hubris allowed adversaries like Baylan and Shin to easily overpower them, demonstrating why the government's downfall was inevitable.
The New Republic's failure to effectively retain prisoners, exemplified by the successful escapes of Morgan Elsbeth and Moff Gideon, exposes underlying issues that ultimately resulted in their downfall. The existence of individuals who sympathized with the Empire and the inadequate supervision of critical sectors such as ship production left the New Republic susceptible, ultimately contributing to their swift overthrow by the First Order.
The downfall of the New Republic at the hands of the First Order was depicted in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. However, Ahsoka Tano's actions in The Mandalorian season 2 shed further light on why the Empire's successor fell so effortlessly. The opening crawl in episode 1 of Ahsoka reveals that Morgan Elsbeth, portrayed by Diana Lee Inosanto, was captured by Ahsoka and was being transported for trial on a New Republic cruiser. Unfortunately, Elsbeth's journey was cut short when Force-wielders Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati easily destroyed the cruiser.
The initial sequence of Ahsoka serves as another example of the New Republic's vulnerability and their susceptibility to formidable opponents. While individuals trained in the ways of the Force, like Jedi, possess great power, it was the New Republic's arrogance that ultimately led to Baylan and Shin's triumph. The First Order's devastating destruction of the New Republic through the Starkiller Base in The Force Awakens came as a shock to many. However, Ahsoka demonstrates that the demise of the New Republic was inevitable due to its inherent flaws.
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The New Republic Couldn't Actually Keep A Prisoner
In a disturbing turn of events, Nightsister Morgan Elsbeth becomes the latest antagonist to slip through the fingers of the New Republic. Remarkably, this marks the second time this year alone that a high-profile prisoner has managed to escape their custody. Elsbeth's release, orchestrated by the cunning Baylan Skoll and his apprentice Shin Hati, mirrors the audacious rescue of Moff Gideon in The Mandalorian season 3, where the infamous Moff eluded justice with the aid of his troopers donned in impenetrable Mandalorian beskar armor. The alarming frequency of such escapes begs the question of who else might have successfully evaded capture. These brazen acts of defiance could embolden former Imperials, eroding their fear of being apprehended during covert operations.
The Republic Was Full Of Imperial Sympathizers
Moff Gideon, a valuable target of significant importance, possessed a rank within the Empire that would have showcased the New Republic's strength and competence through his capture and subsequent trial. Unfortunately, he managed to evade capture effortlessly, sparking widespread speculation and conspiracy theories concerning his ultimate fate. Although Morgan Elsbeth held a lower position in the Empire compared to Gideon, her close association with the missing Grand Admiral Thrawn necessitated a more robust and fortified means of transporting her to prison, given previous failures. The New Republic's inability to adequately safeguard and detain their prisoners underscores more significant systemic issues that ultimately contributed to their downfall.
In Ahsoka episode 2, the New Republic shipyard located on Corellia was discovered to be filled with Imperial sympathizers who were actively assisting Morgan Elsbeth in building hyperdrives. This raises concerns about the lack of proper supervision by New Republic officials in such a crucial aspect of ship manufacturing. The vulnerability of shipyards like this to Imperial influence adds to the understanding of how easily the New Republic succumbed to Kylo Ren and the First Order. As further Star Wars content reveals the New Republic's incompetence, audiences will witness how Ahsoka's actions contribute to the events of the sequels.
Ahsoka releases new episodes Tuesdays at 6pm PT / 9pm ET on Disney+.
