WARNING! DANGER! The following post is a bantha-sized spoiler for the season finale of “Star Wars Rebels.” Turn back now if you wish to remain unspoiled.
Image Credit: Disney/Lucasfilm
Throughout all of Season One of “Star Wars Rebels,” one mystery loomed larger than the rest: exactly who was doling out intelligence to the Rebellion using the codename Fulcrum? Fans had their hopes pinned on Ahsoka Tano and the writers did not disappoint.
Snips survived! Not only did she dodge Order 66, but she”s been working behind the scenes with Bail Organa to subvert the Empire wherever possible.
”Rebels” executive producer Dave Filoni confirmed to USA Today that Ahsoka will continue to be part of the cast, though as a recurring character. Part of Tano”s new role will be as the Obi-Wan Kenobi to both Kanan and Ezra.
She needs to remain kind of a mysterious figure who is woven in and out of the story […] Obi-Wan spoke about these Clone Wars and these things that had gone by, and she can be that in an active way for Ezra and Kanan.
The return of an adult Ahsoka is another thread deftly woven into the cohesive Star Wars tapestry Disney is creating. While this is her first appearance since “The Clone Wars,” Disney hasn”t been shy about inserting Snips falling out with the Jedi Order into other parts of the lore. In the recent novel “Tarkin” – which deals with Darth Vader and Tarkin coming to a mutual professional respect in the early years of the Empire – readers learn that Vader”s distrust of the Grand Moff stems from the officer”s treatment of Ahsoka during her trial.
Ahsoka”s involvement with Bail Organa also cracks open the door to seeing Princess Leia appear in “Star War Rebels.” It is highly unlikely the daughter of Organa wouldn”t have some sort of working relationship with Tano. If Leia knew she grew up around a female Jedi would retroactively color her responses both to Vader and Luke, perhaps even explaining Leia's “memories” of her mother, if Ahsoka shared stories of Padme with the young princess.
Finally, with both Ahsoka and Vader putting in appearances in the season finale, is it only a matter of time before fans watch Anakin Skywalker engage in another heart-wrenching lightsaber battle with a former friend?