Unveiling the Unseen Connections: Ezra Bridger vs Ahsoka in Star Wars Rebels

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Ahsoka episode 6!

Summary

Ezra Bridger's hair color transitioned from blue in Star Wars Rebels to black in his live-action appearance in Ahsoka episode 6.

Having spent nine years in seclusion, Ezra has acquired the ability to communicate in the language of the Noti, signifying his development and adjustment to his environment.

Ezra's attire in Ahsoka is a fresh and distinct rendition, showcasing hues of red, off-white, and brown. It bears visible traces of wear and tear, a testament to his time spent away from civilization on an unfamiliar planet. A significant transformation has taken place for Eman Asfadi's Ezra Bridger since his last appearance in the Star Wars Rebels finale. Episode 6 of Ahsoka marked his first appearance in live-action. Lucasfilm executives have openly acknowledged that Ahsoka essentially represents the fifth season of Star Wars Rebels, with the animated characters seamlessly transitioning to the realm of live-action. This development has paved the way for the introduction of nine animated characters into the live-action format, with Ezra Bridger being the most recent addition.

Lucasfilm has successfully achieved remarkable adaptations of animated characters like Hera Syndulla, Sabine Wren, Grand Admiral Thrawn, and Ezra Bridger in live-action. The passage of time helps account for the differences between the original versions and these new iterations, which is particularly evident in the case of Ezra Bridger. Esfandi's portrayal captivated audiences within minutes, allowing them to easily overlook the subtle alterations made to the character.

5 Ezra’s Hair Is No Longer Blue

In Star Wars Rebels, despite being a human male, Ezra Bridger stands out with his distinctively blue hair. Some viewers even affectionately referred to him as a "blueberry" due to his unique hair color. However, in Ahsoka episode 6, when Sabine Wren finds Ezra on the planet Peridea, his hair is black, which matches the natural hair color of Eman Esfandi. While this change may seem minor, it is an interesting detail that was not carried over from animation to live-action. One possible explanation for this inconsistency is that showrunner Dave Filoni may have purposely wanted to have a character with hair that did not require dyeing, considering the numerous other characters with vibrant hair colors in the series, such as Sabine Wren and Jacen Syndulla. Another possibility is that Ezra's hair was always intended to be black, but had a blue tint in animation to make it visible in darker settings or to differentiate him from characters like the Inquisitors or Darth Vader, who also wore black attire.

4 Ezra Can Now Speak Other Languages

3 Audiences Have Never Seen Ezra Wear Anything Like His Outfit in Ahsoka Episode 6

The early seasons of Star Wars Rebels depicted the extent to which Ezra's upbringing as an orphan deprived him of various experiences. His departure from Lothal on the Ghost marked his initial venture beyond the planet's borders. As a result, Ezra communicated solely in Galactic Basic, being proficient in no other language throughout Rebels. Nonetheless, during his brief appearance in Ahsoka, Ezra surprised his friends by conversing in Noti, a language unique to them, implying that he had acquired it over the course of nine years spent apart. This incident served as yet another testament to Ezra's remarkable growth during his time away.

Throughout the Rebels series, Ezra predominantly sported his iconic orange suit adorned with a white Starbird emblem on his back. As Rebels progressed into its third season, Ezra's signature outfit underwent significant changes to reflect his personal growth and present a more mature version of himself. Every now and then, Ezra would assume the guise of an Imperial officer, but aside from that, his wardrobe remained largely unchanged. The decision to limit the characters' clothing options in animation simplifies the process of consistently developing fresh designs for each character. However, in Ahsoka, Ezra debuts an entirely new ensemble, breaking free from his previous attire.

2 Ezra Is Older

The new ensemble consisted of a combination of red, off-white, and brown hues. Concealed within his robes, Ezra wore chainmail that was rumored to be the Night Trooper’s dog tags collected by Grand Admiral Thrawn over the years. Clearly, this attire was assembled gradually, considering the lack of fitting options for a fully-grown human on the Noti. Much of Ezra’s attire appeared worn and tattered, resembling the condition of Grand Admiral Thrawn and his troops, suggesting that maintaining cleanliness was near impossible in the exile on a foreign planet.

The last time Rebels viewers caught a glimpse of Ezra Bridger, he was approximately 18 years old. However, he has since spent nine years in exile on Peridea, causing him to age to around 27 years old. In the time that has passed, Ezra's voice has deepened, indicating his growth and wisdom. Following the demise of his mentor, Jedi Knight Kanan Jarrus, Ezra recognized the significant role he needed to fill. His ultimate sacrifice in the Rebels finale demonstrated Kanan's final lesson – the art of letting go. Ezra has come to terms with his decision to enlist the help of the purrgil, particularly after realizing through Sabine Wren that it was effective.

1 Ezra Has Grown A Beard

Audiences still have a limited understanding of Peridea and its harsh conditions. While Ezra probably had access to a blade for shaving, growing a beard could have offered him additional protection against the elements. Furthermore, Ezra's beard serves as a visible indication to the audience that he has matured since leaving Lothal. Additionally, the dark hue of Ezra's beard accentuates the blue contacts worn by Eman Esfandi, further bridging the gap between the Rebels version of Ezra and the older iteration in Ahsoka.

There have been a few subtle alterations to Ezra Bridger's physical appearance, but they do not hinder the character in any significant way. In fact, certain details such as his attire and beard help the audience believe that he has been isolated for nine years. Although episode 6 of Ahsoka only offered a brief glimpse of Ezra, it is likely that more information regarding his time away from the main Star Wars galaxy will be unveiled. Questions about Ezra's Force abilities and his proficiency with weapons like blasters or lightsabers still remain. Hopefully, Ahsoka's final two episodes will provide answers about what Ezra Bridger has been up to during those nine years.

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