Unveiling the Unbreakable Legacy: Ezra's Triumph Over Thrawn, Half a Decade since Rebels Concluded

Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Ahsoka episode 6.

Summary

In Ahsoka episode 6, Lars Mikkelsen makes his debut as Grand Admiral Thrawn and Eman Esfandi portrays Ezra Bridger, hinting that their ongoing rivalry has not ceased.

Furthermore, Thrawn has acquired Night Troopers, who could potentially be undead stormtroopers, implying the utilization of Nightsister magick.

Since the Rebels epilogue, Ezra has been evading Thrawn and his forces, secretly eliminating them to ensure the Rebellion's survival.

In addition to introducing Lars Mikkelsen as the live-action Grand Admiral Thrawn, Ahsoka episode 6 also featured Eman Esfandi portraying Ezra Bridger. In the finale of Star Wars Rebels in 2018, Ezra made a brave decision to allow a group of purrgil to whisk him and Thrawn away from Lothal in order to protect it. Ever since, their whereabouts and activities have remained a mystery. It seems improbable that Ezra and Thrawn haven't encountered each other during their exile on Peridea, hinting at the possibility that their rivalry persists.

After suffering heavy losses in the Battle of Lothal against Ezra, Thrawn finds himself with a new asset: Night Troopers. Speculation arises that this specialized unit might consist of reanimated stormtroopers, revived through the arcane magick of the Great Mother's Nightsisters. Their worn and repaired armor, resembling the technique of kintsugi seen in Kylo Ren's attire, hints at their disregard for appearances. Thrawn, known for his meticulous attention to detail, would not tolerate such negligence from his living soldiers.

Ezra Has Been Hiding From Thrawn Since Rebels' Epilogue

Thrawn Hints Ezra Has Been Taking Out His Forces

After being stranded on Peridea, Ezra miraculously evaded capture aboard Thrawn's formidable Star Destroyer, the Chimaera, effectively thwarting the ambitious plans the cunning Admiral had in mind for seizing control of the Imperial power. With no immediate means of escape or return to his original galaxy, Thrawn's only focus became exacting revenge upon Ezra, relentlessly pursued by his loyal Night Troopers. However, there is a glimmer of hope amidst the shadows, as one particular statement from Thrawn hints that Ezra has not simply spent all this time in hiding.

The statement made by Thrawn to Morgan Elsbeth, acknowledging that "our numbers have dwindled" during their time of exile on Peridea, strongly implies that someone else has been systematically eliminating and reducing their forces. While the presence of marauders on the planet may have been a source of annoyance for Thrawn's army, it appears much more plausible that Ezra has been relentlessly chipping away at Thrawn's military power. This would also account for Thrawn's possession of information regarding Ezra's whereabouts. Instead of passively waiting to be rescued, Ezra opted to remain a constant thorn in Thrawn's side, as there were limited possibilities for him to achieve anything significant while trapped on Peridea.

Ezra, known for his fondness for peculiar creatures in the Star Wars universe, could potentially have recruited his newfound crab-like companions to assist him in his fight against Thrawn. The presence of a Rebellion medal worn by the Noti Sabine Wren suggests that they are also contributing in whatever way they can to support Ezra. Ultimately, the dwindling forces of Thrawn signify that the ongoing conflict between the Rebellion and the Empire persists, even after the conclusion of Star Wars Rebels. Simply put, it is through Ahsoka that Ezra continues to keep the Rebellion alive. New episodes of Ahsoka are released on Disney+ on Tuesdays at 6pm PT / 9pm ET.