Unveiling the Epic Saga: Grand Admiral Thrawn's Jaw-Dropping Triumph Over the First Order's Timeline in Star Wars
Unraveling the Enigma: Thrawn's Comeback and Its Implications on Star Wars' First Order Setup & Timeline
Grand Admiral Thrawn's appearance in Ahsoka disrupts the continuity of the First Order storyline in the Star Wars sequels, creating confusion in the timeline. Thrawn was originally introduced by Timothy Zahn in Heir to the Empire, a story set shortly after the events of Return of the Jedi in the Expanded Star Wars Universe. However, after Disney acquired Lucasfilm, Heir to the Empire and other Expanded Universe stories were rebranded as Legends and considered non-canon. Thrawn was later reintroduced into the Star Wars canon in 2017 through Star Wars Rebels season 3.
While Thrawn was initially portrayed as a post-Empire villain in the books, Rebels placed him in the Age of the Empire timeframe. Additionally, the canonical Thrawn books by Timothy Zahn all take place before the events of A New Hope. However, it seems that Star Wars is now returning to Thrawn's original role in the saga. Ahsoka Tano referred to the Chiss strategist as an "heir to the Empire" in the Ahsoka trailer, implying that future stories in the Mandoverse may draw inspiration from Thrawn's Expanded Universe origins. Nevertheless, Thrawn's reappearance and the introduction of the Imperial Shadow Council plot do not align with the origins of the First Order.
Moff Gideon Represented The Worst Of The Old Empire
Moff Gideon, initially portrayed as a warlord seeking to maintain authority following the Empire's downfall, gradually reveals grander ambitions in The Mandalorian's second season involving a cloning project. The third season eventually discloses his ultimate objective - the creation of Force-sensitive clones based on himself. Furthermore, Moff Gideon's affiliation with the Imperial Shadow Council, a clandestine order of warlords from the Empire's era engaged in undisclosed initiatives, is unveiled.
Moff Gideon's characteristics, resembling those of the archetypal Star Wars villains rather than the First Order, emphasize his Darth Vader-like warrior persona and his relentless pursuit of personal power through Force-sensitive clones. Notably, there is a lack of direct connection between Moff Gideon, the other antagonists in the Mandalorian universe, and the practices of the First Order. The only link lies in General Hux's father's involvement with the Imperial Shadow Council. Although there was the potential for The Mandalorian to serve as a bridge between the original trilogy and Star Wars: The Force Awakens, this connection has not materialized.
Star Wars Has Positioned Grand Admiral Thrawn As The "Heir To The Empire"
The Mandalorian's timeline is moving closer to the events of the Star Wars sequels. However, there is a significant time gap of around 25 years between The Mandalorian season 3 and The Force Awakens. According to the established Star Wars sequels, the Empire was essentially defeated after Return of the Jedi, and the emergence of the First Order became the next big threat. The issue is that The Mandalorian and the related shows in the "Mandoverse" are not directly setting up the First Order. Instead, all the storylines so far indicate that Grand Admiral Thrawn, the "heir to the Empire," is the impending threat.
What happened to Thrawn after Star Wars Rebels is unclear, but the ending episodes of The Mandalorian season 3 suggest that the Imperial Shadow Council is eagerly awaiting his return. While Thrawn's goals differ from Palpatine's, the Mandoverse has portrayed him as an extension of the Empire. It is unlikely that an accurate adaptation of Heir to the Empire would fit within the current Star Wars canon; however, Thrawn appears to be the next major threat after the Empire. Presumably, he will play a significant role in the post-Return of the Jedi timeline.
The First Order Just Don't Fit With This Star Wars Timeline
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From a behind-the-scenes perspective, the First Order in the Star Wars sequels was a logical choice. The Force Awakens aimed to capture the essence of the original Star Wars trilogy, intentionally mirroring key aspects of A New Hope. In practical terms, the First Order closely resembled the Empire, from their attire to their spacecraft. Similarly, the Resistance functioned much like the Rebel Alliance, albeit with a different name. However, nearly a decade after The Force Awakens, Star Wars is attempting to move beyond relying solely on nostalgia from the original trilogy.
Recent shows like The Mandalorian and Ahsoka, as well as the upcoming Dave Filoni The Mandalorian movie, are exploring new facets of the Star Wars universe. They delve into familiar territories, such as Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Rebels, and the Expanded Universe. Nevertheless, the Mandoverse faces a challenge in simultaneously setting up the Empire's successor while revisiting different storylines. These two concepts should ideally be separate from one another. The Mandoverse exists within the "Rise of the First Order" era in theory, but its current focus lies on the heir to the Empire. This approach could potentially result in significant alterations to the existing narrative, particularly if the original trilogy characters confront Thrawn in future installments.
