The Untold Secrets of Ahsoka: Unveiling the Untold Importance of Captain Enoch's Name

Summary

Captain Enoch, Thrawn's Captain of the Guard, has a name which is notable because stormtroopers normally go by numbers, suggesting Thrawn's influence.

Enoch and Thrawn's Night Troopers have deviated from the Empire's standardized appearance, thanks to Enoch's altered face mask that renders him almost otherworldly.

Enoch's designation alludes to the possible existence of mystical aspects within the Night Troopers, drawing a comparison to the biblical figure Enoch who possessed dominion over celestial entities.

Ahsoka's introduction of Captain Enoch, the Captain of the Guard for Grand Admiral Thrawn, hints at his role in the Star Wars show. Thrawn's ruthless effectiveness and strategic thinking already pose a threat, but with Captain Enoch leading a group of enigmatic Night Troopers, there appears to be more happening on Peridia than what meets the eye.

Ahsoka fully embraces the mythical influences of Star Wars, drawing inspiration from sources like Lord of the Rings and Greek mythology. Dave Filoni continues this trend by naming Captain Enoch after biblical and Ancient Near East texts, adding an obscure yet potentially significant reference to the character.

Who is Enoch, Thrawn's Captain of the Guard?

Enoch emerges as a fresh addition to the Star Wars canon, not drawing inspiration from previous Star Wars legends. In the account provided by "Ahsoka," Enoch's introduction offers the sole known insights into his character. Despite his limited screen time and absence of a backstory, certain aspects about him can be deduced. Primarily, it is worth noting that he possesses a name, which is remarkable considering the Empire's customary practice of assigning stormtroopers operational numbers. However, Thrawn, choosing not to adhere to all imperial protocols, earns greater loyalty from his troops. Furthermore, Enoch's title holds interest as "Captain of the Guard" was not commonly employed by the Empire; rather, it was associated with the First Order, possibly indicating Thrawn's potential influence on the successor to the Empire.

Beyond his name and rank, there is an evident peculiarity surrounding Enoch and Thrawn's other Night Troopers. It is plausible that they were formerly stormtroopers stranded in the spiral galaxy with Thrawn, yet their armor and conduct have deviated from the Empire's sterile conformity. Captain Enoch, particularly, stands out as distinctive. While other stormtroopers sport a fusion of familiar Imperial armor components held together by red fabric and gold embellishments, Enoch's entire facemask has been modified with a golden one, subverting the traditional faceless appearance of stormtroopers. Nevertheless, it still conveys a unmistakably inhuman vibe.

Enoch in the Bible and the Apocrypha

: Furthermore, apart from the modifications made to their armor, the Night Troopers possess another eerie aspect to them. Given their name and Thrawn's affiliation with the Great Mothers, suggesting his prior reliance on their mystical abilities during his period of exile, it is conceivable that there could be a supernatural component to this army. It remains uncertain whether they have been augmented like Mother Talzin did with Savage Oppress in Star Wars: The Clone Wars or if they are something more sinister, such as an army of the undead. However, the containers being loaded onto Thrawn's Star Destroyer, The Chimera, bear a resemblance to receptacles holding lifeless bodies, hence fueling the prevalent theory of necromancy.

In addition to what is revealed in Ahsoka, the name Enoch serves as a substantial clue. This name appears multiple times in the Bible, with its first occurrence linked to Cain, the first murderer, who named his son Enoch, and even constructed a city bearing the same name. While there are intriguing implications that emerge from this connection, the most significant usage of the name pertains to another individual named Enoch in Adam's lineage. Though the lineage records the age of death for each individual, it states that Enoch, after living for 365 years, "walked with God: and he was not; for God took him."

The phrase "God took him." is commonly interpreted to signify that Enoch led a righteous life and was physically transported to heaven rather than experiencing death on Earth. Although the Biblical canon provides limited information on Enoch, additional ancient texts, such as the Book of Enoch, offer a more extensive depiction of his story. The Book of Enoch, an apocalyptic text, explores themes of death and judgment. The initial section of the book, known as The Book of the Watchers, recounts the tale of fallen angels who intermingled with humans, resulting in the birth of the "Nephilim" (giants).

How Enoch in Ahsoka is Similar to The Biblical Enoch

There are noticeable resemblances between the Biblical (and apocryphal) figure Enoch and Captain Enoch in Ahsoka. However, there are also significant contradictions or subversions. While the Enoch of the Bible is renowned for his righteousness, Captain Enoch is far from being a virtuous character. Nevertheless, if Ahsoka aims to challenge the traditional imagery by portraying Thrawn as a god-like figure to Captain Enoch, then his admiration for Thrawn could be viewed as a clear parallel. Under this interpretation, it is also worth mentioning that Enoch seems to differentiate himself from the other Night Troopers and is being or will be transported to another galaxy with Thrawn, mirroring the ascent of the biblical Enoch.

Captain Enoch's role is reminiscent of the Book of Enoch, which portrays Enoch being elevated to heaven and granted divine insight into all of God's creations, both tangible and intangible. Additionally, he is assigned the task of safeguarding God's throne and given authority over angels. In a similar vein, if we perceive Thrawn as a deity in the eyes of the Night Troopers, Captain Enoch, serving as their leader and Thrawn's personal aide, shares several similarities with the biblical and apocryphal Enoch.

What Enoch's Biblical Inspirations Predict About His Role in Ahsoka

Although there are some similarities and subversion of the Enochian archetype with Captain Enoch in Ahsoka, it is best to assume that the inspiration is minimal. This is because Captain Enoch is not a main character and the events that occur to Enoch in the Bible and the Book of Enoch are of a much larger scale. However, this doesn't mean that the inspiration cannot offer some insights into Dave Filoni's intentions for the character. It is evident that the respect for Thrawn, his proximity to him, and his authority over the Night Troopers already align him with certain aspects of Enoch's character.

Enoch's name holds potential significance for the Night Troopers, further suggesting their mystical nature. In The Book of Enoch, a divine authority similar to Enoch is mentioned, adding to the possibility of a connection. Additionally, Enoch's interactions with fallen angels seeking mercy from God mirrors the potential corruption of humans by the Nightsisters' Magick, with Enoch overseeing them. However, it is also possible that Captain Enoch's name is simply a name, as Star Wars lore often creates intricate backgrounds for characters that ultimately have minimal impact on the narrative. Nonetheless, considering Enoch's association with Thrawn and the Night Troopers, his name may have deeper implications in the remaining episodes of Ahsoka. It will be intriguing to discover the true extent of the inspirations behind his name.