The Unbelievable Twist: Why Captain Enoch Means' Death Defies Star Wars Canon

This article contains spoilers from Ahsoka episode 6.

Summary

In the current Star Wars canon, Grand Admiral Thrawn's narrative diverges from his demise in the Star Wars Legends, where he met his demise through treachery.

In Ahsoka, Captain Enoch stands as Thrawn's newfound right-hand man, promising an alliance devoid of any betrayal akin to Rukh's actions in the Legends.

Ahsoka is deviating from the Thrawn Trilogy and instead, the focus in the current canon lies in the creation of fresh characters and storylines.

Introducing Ahsoka as Grand Admiral Thrawn's new associate, the enigmatic Captain Enoch emerges, potentially shattering the assumption of Thrawn's demise in the Star Wars Legends. The Star Wars Expanded Universe, commonly known as Legends, was discontinued in 2014. However, various characters and concepts from Legends have seamlessly transitioned into the current canon, including Grand Admiral Thrawn, who is now portrayed by Lars Mikkelsen in live-action.

Thrawn, a merciless military tactician, played a pivotal role in the Legends universe. He was introduced and infamously killed off in Timothy Zahn's "Thrawn Trilogy." Though certain overarching elements remain consistent between the Legends and current canon, such as Thrawn's appearance as a blue-skinned, red-eyed Chiss who faced exile from his own people, their narratives have diverged significantly. Consequently, it is now evident that they must also conclude distinctively. While this may disappoint dedicated Star Wars readers, it ultimately serves the greater good.

How Grand Admiral Thrawn Died In Star Wars Legends

In the Legends continuity, Grand Admiral Thrawn rose to power as one of the Imperial warlords during the post-Endor Galactic Civil War. Through his leadership skills, he managed to unite numerous Imperial leaders and nearly overthrew the entire New Republic. The key to his success lay in his alliance with the Noghri Overclan, a race known for their elite Noghri Death Commandos who once served Darth Vader himself. Thrawn gained command of the Noghri Death Commandos after assisting Vader in battling Prince Xizor of the Black Sun crime syndicate.

The Empire had cunningly secured the unwavering loyalty of the Noghri by apparently providing relief after a catastrophic bioweapon incident on their home planet Honoghr during the Clone Wars era. However, this was nothing more than a deceptive ploy to ensure the continued suffering of Honoghr, ensuring the Noghri's loyalty and their ongoing service to the Empire. This ultimately proved to be a fatal flaw in Grand Admiral Thrawn's plan.

Princess Leia discovered the truth in the "Thrawn Trilogy" finale and successfully manipulated the Noghri to turn against Thrawn and his forces. Amidst the Battle of Bilbringi, Thrawn's trusted Noghri ally, Rukh, assassinated the Grand Admiral, resulting in a New Republic triumph at the sacrifice of his own life. In his final moments, Thrawn's poignant last words were, "But it was executed so artistically," possibly alluding to his assassination rather than the ongoing battle surrounding his flagship. While Darth Vader had deceived the Noghri, it was Thrawn who fell victim to the consequences of upholding this charade, ultimately being betrayed - much like the Empire had betrayed the Noghri for countless years.

It's Impossible To Imagine Captain Enoch Betraying Thrawn In This Way

Similar to Grand Admiral Thrawn, Rukh made his appearance in Star Wars Rebels as Thrawn's trusted lieutenant. However, it is important to note that the Noghri's involvement in the Clone Wars and their unwavering loyalty to Darth Vader is completely omitted in the current canon. Furthermore, Rukh met his ultimate demise in the thrilling finale of Star Wars Rebels when he suffered a fatal fate, being electrocuted to death after colliding with a shield generator.

Star Wars Isn't Just Doing A Repeat Of The Thrawn Trilogy

Grand Admiral Thrawn has been provided with a new accomplice in the form of Captain Enoch, a stormtrooper donning an exquisite golden armor. Much remains a mystery regarding Captain Enoch's background, yet it is apparent that Thrawn's exceptional leadership skills have allowed Enoch and his Night Troopers to survive on Peridea for a remarkable span of ten years, ultimately securing the Grand Admiral's unwavering loyalty. Unlike Rukh in Legends, the chances of Captain Enoch betraying Thrawn seem highly implausible, implying that Thrawn's tale will unfold in a distinctive manner.

The "Thrawn Trilogy," released in 1991, initially gained recognition as the unofficial sequel trilogy. It is therefore unsurprising that Thrawn and various aspects from these books were incorporated into the new canon. However, it is crucial to note that the characters, lore, and overarching narrative of the "Thrawn Trilogy" cannot be replicated verbatim in the new canon. Ahsoka's decision to present a distinctly different story from the Legends material is commendable. Consequently, it is important for viewers not to solely anticipate canon versions of other characters introduced in Zahn's "Thrawn Trilogy," such as Emperor's Hand Mara Jade and renegade Jedi Master Joruus C'baoth. Rather, the current Star Wars canon should focus on the creation of fresh characters and storylines, rather than solely reimagining and reinterpreting the past.

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