Hyperspace Theories: Ahsoka Tano is The Jedi
Ahsoka Tano has come a long way. In 2008, Star Wars fans met her in the theatrical debut of The Clone Wars animated series as an overeager and headstrong teenage Padawan, who quickly garnered the nickname “Snips” from her master, Anakin Skywalker. In 2022, she will become the first character originating in animation to attain the status of lead (and titular) character in a Star Wars live-action film or series. As precursor to that series, Ahsoka was featured in a co-starring role in the second season episode of The Mandalorian live action Disney+ series fittingly titled “The Jedi.”
On this episode of Hyperspace Theories, Tricia Barr and B.J. Priester discuss Ahsoka’s story to date, look ahead to her upcoming series, and explain why referring to Ahsoka as “The Jedi” is more complicated that it might seem. Although Ahsoka is a Jedi apprentice for most of The Clone Wars, at the end of the series she is, by her own choice, no longer a formal member of the Jedi Order. About fifteen years later in Star Wars Rebels, she is operating as the Rebel agent codenamed Fulcrum and willing occasionally to dispense some Jedi wisdom to Kanan Jarrus and Ezra Bridger. But when she finally accepts the truth that Darth Vader is her fallen former master and confronts him face to face, she responds to a taunt from the Sith Lord with a memorable line of her own: “I am no Jedi.” In Chapter 13 of The Mandalorian, Ahsoka may say she believes the Jedi Order is long gone, but she also demonstrates through her words and deeds that the best of its values and principles live on in her. She may not call herself a Jedi Knight, but she pursues her mission like one. What remains in her character’s journey ahead? The last step in the Jedi path, earning and accepting the status of a Jedi Master.
UPDATED WITH LINKS TO PART TWO (MANDALORIANS) AND PART THREE (DIN DJARIN)
Related Links:
- Vanity Fair interview with Dave Filoni and Rosario Dawson about Ahsoka’s appearance in “The Jedi” episode of The Mandalorian (Nov. 2020)
- StarWars.com interview with Rosario Dawson after Ahsoka’s appearance in The Mandalorian (Dec. 2020)
- Hyperspace Theories: The Clone Wars Season 7 – Ahsoka and the Martez Sisters (Apr. 2020)
- Hyperspace Theories: The Clone Wars Season 7 – The Siege of Mandalore (June 2020)
Contact Information:
- Hyperspace Theories: Twitter @HyperspacePod
- Tricia Barr: Twitter @FANgirlcantina; email Tricia@fangirlblog.com
- B.J. Priester: Twitter @RedPenofLex; email Lex@fangirlblog.com
Tricia Barr's novel, Wynde, won the 2014 Independent Publisher Book Award Gold Medal for Best Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror Ebook. She was also part of Silence in the Library's successful all-female creator science fiction and fantasy anthology Athena's Daughters, which is available now. For excerpts and tales of her adventures in creating a fictional universe, hop over to TriciaBarr.com.
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