The Untold Mystery of Grand Admiral Thrawn: Star Wars' Forgotten Enigma

Summary

The way Thrawn is portrayed in Ahsoka differs from Timothy Zahn's novels. In the novels, he is depicted as someone who utilizes Palpatine's resources for his own benefit, rather than being loyal to the Empire.

In Ahsoka, Thrawn is depicted as an extremist leader, commanding the unwavering loyalty of his Night Troopers who have been marooned with him for ten years.

The motive driving Thrawn's inclination to initiate another conflict remains undisclosed. He stands to gain little from incapacitating the New Republic, seemingly inclined towards the conquest or obliteration of planets.

Grand Admiral Thrawn, previously introduced in the novel Heir to the Empire, made his highly anticipated live-action debut in Ahsoka. Known for his strategic brilliance and feared as an Imperial warlord in the New Republic, Thrawn is a formidable military tactician. In the events leading up to Ahsoka, Thrawn and Ezra Bridger were transported to another galaxy by purrgil star whales, where they spent a decade in exile until allies rescued them on Peridea. With Thrawn's defeat in Star Wars Rebels reversed, a new war awaits the known galaxy.

Now forming an alliance with the Great Mothers of the Nightsisters, Thrawn and his crew aboard the Chimaera have established a base on Dathomir in preparation for the upcoming conflict. As hinted in The Mandalorian season 3, Thrawn will assume leadership of the Imperial Remnant, which possesses the necessary resources to assemble a fleet capable of challenging the New Republic. The stage is set for Thrawn's return to the war theater. However, Ahsoka leaves unanswered the crucial question surrounding Thrawn: What motivates him?

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Timothy Zahn's Star Wars Novels Never Show Thrawn As An Imperial Loyalist

Thrawn's portrayal in Ahsoka and the Star Wars publishing works presents an inconsistency. While his creator, Timothy Zahn, has never depicted the Chiss mastermind as loyal to the Empire, instead portraying him as someone utilizing Palpatine's resources for his own purposes, the canon novels reveal a different perspective. In these novels, Thrawn joins the Empire under an agreement with Palpatine, hoping that the Emperor would provide military assistance to the Chiss Ascendancy against the threat posed by the Grysks. However, throughout the trilogy, Thrawn's allegiance is repeatedly questioned, as he secretly aids the Ascendancy by sending new allies whenever possible.

Ahsoka Shows Thrawn As A Fanatical Imperial Leader

The Rebels find themselves in a delicate balancing act between two conflicting interpretations. While Thrawn remains loyal to the Empire, he does not embody the same villainous nature as Darth Vader or the Inquisitors. The threat on Thrawn's life by the Emperor just before the Liberation of Lothal indicates that Ezra's decision to transport him to Peridea ultimately saved the life of the esteemed Grand Admiral. This raises the question of why Thrawn would choose to remain devoted to the Empire when his own leader was willing to take his life. For Thrawn, the Empire was merely a necessary evil, but his unexpected appearance in Ahsoka seems to deviate from the established character portrayed in Zahn's novels.

Thrawn is not just an Imperial loyalist, but an exceptional leader. The Night Troopers, who have been stranded with him on Peridea for ten long years, view their Grand Admiral as a figure to be revered, and rightfully so. His remarkable strategic brilliance has ensured their survival. However, the reason why individuals like Morgan Elsbeth, who managed to evade capture by the New Republic and remained in the known galaxy, would pledge unwavering allegiance to Thrawn remains a mysterious puzzle. It is often in times of hardship that people are more susceptible to looking towards the wrong individuals for guidance.

Why Does Thrawn Want To Start Another War?

Thrawn's unwavering allegiance to the Imperial Remnant is peculiar. Despite not exhibiting the same fervent support seen in Moff Gideon and his loyalists, Thrawn echoes their proclamation of "Long live the Empire" as he condemns Elsbeth to her demise. This belief is perplexing for someone as practical as Thrawn. He aligned himself with an Empire that he believed could safeguard his people if necessary, yet that very regime met its ultimate demise. It is peculiar that Thrawn has chosen to become a warlord determined to resurrect a failed government, raising doubts about his true intentions.

Despite the apprehension surrounding Thrawn's reappearance and his declaration of initiating a fresh conflict, no explanation has been provided for his desire to initiate another war. Thrawn's primary responsibility lies with the Chiss Ascendancy in the Unknown Regions, making it seemingly pointless for him to cripple the ineffective New Republic. While the warlord may be inclined to conquer or obliterate planets, there appears to be minimal gain in doing so. It is possible that Thrawn is employing a strategic long-term approach, utilizing all available resources to advance an undisclosed motive. By having the Imperial Remnant under his control and the New Republic teetering on the brink, Grand Admiral Thrawn can actively pursue his true objective of empowering the Chiss Ascendancy.