Summary
Ahsoka Tano and Sabine Wren team up to find and stop Grand Admiral Thrawn's return, with various relationships taking center stage.
The destruction of their rebel base by Thrawn and his plan to completely annihilate Lothal adds a personal dimension to the mission for the Star Wars Rebels characters.
Although Ahsoka has never encountered Thrawn, her concern might arise from her deep connection with Anakin Skywalker and a potential alert about Thrawn's formidable skills from her former mentor.
Ahsoka Tano sets out on a journey to locate and thwart the return of Grand Admiral Thrawn in Ahsoka. However, there is a significant issue with the storyline. Ahsoka will be accompanied by Sabine Wren, a Mandalorian who was once an adversary of Thrawn's and surprisingly, Ahsoka's former apprentice. This series delves into various relationships, with a focus on the connection between Ahsoka and Sabine, as well as Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati. Each of these characters is in pursuit of Thrawn for different reasons, all linked to their unique relationship with the Grand Admiral.
For the returning characters from Star Wars Rebels, stopping Thrawn is an incredibly personal mission. Thrawn not only relentlessly pursued and ultimately destroyed their initial rebel base but was also willing to completely annihilate Lothal under the Emperor's orders. Jedi Ezra Bridger managed to foil Palpatine's plans and rid Lothal of Thrawn's fleet before disappearing with the Grand Admiral in the Unknown Regions of space. Sabine and Hera Syndulla, therefore, have compelling reasons to join the hunt for Thrawn as it would mean being reunited with their lost friend. However, what makes stopping Thrawn personal to Ahsoka remains undisclosed.
Ahsoka Was Lost Before Grand Admiral Thrawn's Appearance
Ahsoka never witnessed Thrawn's pursuit of Phoenix Squadron since she was already lost on Malachor before he became involved. Rebels can be split into two distinct narratives, the first half focusing on the growth of Ezra and Kanan Jarrus alongside the rebels. Ahsoka and Darth Vader enter the story in the season 1 finale, with season 2 leading up to their fateful encounter on Malachor. The fate of the former Jedi remained uncertain until Rebels season 4 when Ezra rescued her from her duel in the World Between Worlds.
However, she was unable to join in the Liberation of Lothal as she returned to Malachor through the portal she had been pulled from. Ahsoka promised Ezra that she would find him once she found a way off the Sith planet, but it is still unknown when exactly this occurred. By the time Ahsoka could return, Ezra and Thrawn had already vanished, preventing her from taking part in the ultimate confrontation with the Grand Admiral. While Ahsoka's determination to bring Ezra back aligns with her promise, her lack of involvement in Thrawn's role in the Empire-Rebellion conflict raises questions about her.
Ahsoka And Thrawn Have Never Met - So Why Is She So Worried?
Ahsoka Tano and Grand Admiral Thrawn have never crossed paths before. The marketing for Ahsoka emphasizes her determination to prevent Thrawn's resurgence, referring to him as the "heir to the Empire." Ahsoka's focus on stopping Thrawn appears to be more important to her than locating Ezra, which is likely Sabine's main motivation. In the era of the New Republic, Ahsoka is a wanderer who seeks out information about Thrawn from rumors circulating throughout the galaxy. Although she may have heard stories from her acquaintances that highlight Thrawn's military prowess, it is peculiar that she fears his return considering they have no personal history together.
One possible explanation could be rooted in Ahsoka's connection to her former master. Anakin Skywalker and Thrawn surprisingly met during the Clone Wars, possibly after Ahsoka departed from the Jedi Order. Ahsoka's stance with Anakin at the beginning of the show is unknown, but it is plausible that a Force ghost visit from Skywalker might include a warning about Thrawn's abilities. Many anticipated that Anakin would have done the same for Luke regarding Emperor Palpatine's survival on Exegol, and Anakin serving as the catalyst to warn his apprentice would be the perfect way to initiate the events of Ahsoka.
Episodes 1 and 2 of Ahsoka premiere on Wednesday, August 23 on Disney+.
