The Unveiling of Thrawn: A Star Wars Villain to Rival Palpatine

This article contains spoilers for Ahsoka episode 7.

Summary

Ahsoka episode 7 unveils the reasons why Grand Admiral Thrawn is considered the most formidable Star Wars villain since Emperor Palpatine. Thrawn possesses an unparalleled ability to anticipate his enemies' moves and manipulate their choices to his benefit.

Thrawn's adversaries frequently underestimate him, leading to hesitation and fear, which he skillfully manipulates. Episode 7 of Ahsoka has already unveiled why Grand Admiral Thrawn is arguably the most formidable Star Wars villain since Emperor Palpatine himself. For many viewers, this episode provided their initial real glimpse into the true extent of Grand Admiral Thrawn's danger. Fans of the old Star Wars Expanded Universe are well aware of his legendary role in bringing the New Republic to its knees, and those familiar with Star Wars Rebels have witnessed his menacing presence within the canon. However, the majority of viewers were undoubtedly thrilled to finally witness the formidable capabilities of Lars Mikkelsen's portrayal of Grand Admiral Thrawn.

Notably, this is not Thrawn at the pinnacle of his power. After being marooned in a remote galaxy for a minimum of nine years, he openly acknowledges that his assets are dwindling. However, when Thrawn eventually regains control of the Imperial Remnant and reenters the central Star Wars galaxy, he will undoubtedly become an even more formidable adversary. Nevertheless, episode 7 of Ahsoka has already verified that Thrawn is unequivocally the most formidable Star Wars antagonist since the Emperor.

Thrawn Is A Master At Predicting His Enemies

In Ahsoka episode 7, Grand Admiral Thrawn showcases his expertise in understanding his adversaries. He meticulously studies his opponents, acquiring extensive knowledge about them, and then skillfully identifies their strengths and weaknesses. This is exemplified in his analysis of Ahsoka, where he gains access to the Inquisitorial Database, unveiling her past as Anakin Skywalker's former Padawan. Due to his previous association with Anakin during the Clone Wars, Thrawn possesses a rare insight into Ahsoka Tano, comprehending her training and abilities.

Within Ahsoka episode 7, Thrawn's primary objective lies in exerting control over Ahsoka's actions. Recognizing Anakin Skywalker's unpredictable and spontaneous nature, Thrawn aptly deduces that these traits also extend to his former Padawan. Consequently, Thrawn's aim is to limit Ahsoka's options and manipulate her into uniting with Sabine and Ezra on Peridea, instead of attempting to hinder Thrawn's departure on the Eye of Sion. Aware of the advantageous time he possesses, Thrawn plans to leave as soon as he has finished loading valuable cargo onto the Eye of Sion. With the purrgil having already departed Peridea, Ahsoka is left without a means to pursue him this time, making her and her allies stranded in a distant galaxy.

Thrawn Can Turn Even Defeats To His Advantage

In Ahsoka episode 7, Grand Admiral Thrawn's plan to find and eliminate Ezra and Sabine before they teamed up with Ahsoka fails. He sends Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati to monitor Sabine, but Thrawn is unaware of Baylan's hidden agenda and the mysterious call he receives through the Force. As a result, Baylan's absence shifts the ground battle in favor of the heroes, and Thrawn is forced to withdraw his troops. Despite this setback, Ahsoka episode 7 showcases Thrawn's tactical brilliance. Even in defeat, Thrawn manages to use the situation to his advantage, realizing that time is now crucial for Ahsoka. He strategically deploys just enough forces to keep the Jedi occupied while he continues loading the Eye of Sion, and he is nearly done.

This approach mirrors Thrawn's tactics in Star Wars Rebels. He deploys probe droids to locate a rebel base, and although they are sabotaged, Thrawn correctly deduces that the base is on one of the specific worlds he targeted, narrowing down his search. Thrawn has the ability to turn defeats into opportunities and capitalize on his enemies' responses. This tactical brilliance is similar to Palpatine's when he discovered Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas had commissioned a clone army - a discovery that became integral to Sidious' plan.

Thrawn's Enemies Overestimate Him

In Ahsoka episode 7, it was revealed that one of Grand Admiral Thrawn's greatest strengths is the fact that his enemies tend to overestimate him. When the Great Mothers targeted Ahsoka's ship and the Eye of Sion's batteries locked on to her, she immediately assumed that Thrawn had anticipated her every move. However, she failed to realize that Thrawn had other powerful allies who were adept in the dark side of the Force, and neglected to question how her location had been discovered. This tendency to jump to conclusions without considering all the possibilities is reminiscent of the reactions seen in Star Wars Legends, where the mere mention of Thrawn's name struck fear into the hearts of his enemies.

Thrawn is well aware of this tendency and knows how to exploit it to his advantage. There have been instances where his enemies were immobilized by indecision, fearing that their actions were already predicted. Indecisiveness in battle can be detrimental, as it allows the opponent to seize more opportunities. These military leaders learned the hard way that Thrawn was able to use their fear of him as a formidable weapon.

He May Not Have The Dark Side, But Thrawn Knows How To Use The Force

Both Thrawn and Palpatine are highly skilled tacticians, adept at outmaneuvering their adversaries. However, there is one significant distinction between them: Thrawn lacks the ability to tap into the Force and has a limited understanding of it. Consequently, he suffered defeats on two occasions during Star Wars Rebels. Once, when Kanan Jarrus persuaded the Bendu to launch an attack against Thrawn's forces, and again when Ezra summoned the purrgil to whisk away Thrawn's ship to Peridea. Nonetheless, despite not being Force-sensitive, Thrawn has always exhibited a willingness to acquire knowledge on how to utilize it indirectly.

In Star Wars Legends, Thrawn formed an alliance with the deranged Jedi Master Joruus C'baoth and skillfully harnessed C'baoth's Force powers to his advantage. The Jedi Master efficiently coordinated Thrawn's forces, establishing a formidable synergy among his agents. Presently, in Ahsoka, Thrawn has aligned himself with the Great Mothers, three influential Nightsisters. Although the extent of the benefits derived from this partnership remains uncertain, Thrawn has made remarks indicating its productivity. This exemplifies the Grand Admiral's aptitude for compensating for his shortcomings and solidifies his status as a formidable menace to the entire galaxy.

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