The Disney+ Star Wars series “Ahsoka” is one of the best if not the best live-action Star Wars series yet, and that is a gigantuous statement considering Star Wars live-action shows have greats like The Mandalorian and Obi-Wan Kenobi, none of which disappointed in the least.
The casting, action, and writing, are all spot-on, pitch-perfect.
Even the regular non-force addicted audience can also surely love and enjoy the show, apart from a few references that make it difficult for them to connect wholeheartedly to the plot.
On the contrary, these references and connecting dots are what makes it all the more special for the geeks. (by the way, hi I am a geek).
So, in today’s article, we are gonna talk about these crucial references and their relevance. I will be your Yoda today; ‘your confusions; vanish, they will!’
The Wall Painting!
In episode 1 we see a wall painting which is showcasing a team of heroes, and we can easily recognize some of the characters in the series from that wall painting. That painting is straight out of the Rebels animated series and yes those are the rebels. That exact scene where Ahsoka comes to pick up Sabine Wren and they meet where the wall painting is kept, is the last scene of the “Star Wars: Rebels” animated series.
Rebels Meet The Mandalorian
Sabine Wren the deuteragonist of “Ahsoka” was also the deuteragonist of “Star Wars: Rebels” and she was also the love interest of the protagonist Ezra Bridger.
Before joining the rebels Sabine was an assassin for hire like most of the Mandalorians for example, Din Djarin (The Mandalorian), Boba Fett, and Bo-Katan Kryze.
She joined the rebels after their fates clashed, on one of their missions Sabine found the Darksaber, a symbol of kingship for the Mandalorians on the Nightsister lair on Dathomir.
As Sabine herself is from a royal clan ‘Clan Wren’, she tried to master it and almost succeded as well, but when the rebels returned to Mandalore with the Darksaber, she helped Bo-Katan defeat Gar Saxon and the rest of the Saxon Clan. Then, Sabine surrendered the Darksaber to Bo-Katan, who once again became the leader of the Mandalorians. Bo belonging to the ‘Clan Kryze’ was the rightful ruler of Mandalore.
But soon the destruction of Mandalore took place and after the Night of a Thousand Tears, the Empire desecrated Mandalore and Bo-Katan surrendered the Darksaber to Moff Gideon, hoping that the Empire would stop the Great Purge of Mandalore. By circa 9 ABY, after the fall of the Empire, Gideon still possessed the Darksaber and was the leader of an Imperial remnant on the planet of Navarro. During his rescue of the Force-sensitive foundling Grogu from Gideon, the Mandalorian Din Djarin won the Darksaber from Gideon in combat.
In Season 2 of “The Mandalorian”, Bo-Katan challenges Axe to a duel for the command of the Mandalorian fleet. Her goal is to prove her strength so that she can again captain her former soldiers, uniting her tribe with the Children of the Watch. Unfortunately, even after she bested Axe in combat, Bo-Katan’s leadership is questioned due to her lack of Darksaber. That’s when Din Djarin steps up and gives the Darksaber to Bo-Katan, claiming she’s the rightful owner of the legendary weapon since she defeated the creature that had defeated Din, and once again the rightful ruler of Mandalore gets her throne back.
In short, the dark saber ownership goes to Sabine Wren -> Bo-Katan Kryze -> Moff Gideon -> Din Djarin -> Bo-Katan Kryze.
Hence, arguably but technically, if she had been a tad bit more ambitious, Sabine could have been the ruler of Mandalore right now.
Who Is Ezra Bridger?
Ezra Bridger is the Protagonist of “Star Wars: Rebels” and the mutual love interest of my Star Wars crush (Sabine Wren), this guy is as much a chosen one as Anakin Skywalker was, he was the last hope of the galaxy most of the time he was alive, and its biggest threat for the rest, highly force sensitive, was thought to be the last Jedi, made a huge sacrifice saving the galaxy by getting lost in a far galaxy to get rid of grand admiral Thrawn.
But, a big poopy BUT, after a while he was found by Sabine and Ahsoka in the untamed wilderness of Peridea, the ancestral home of what Skoll called the Great Witch Kingdom of the Dathmiri, on the planet Dathomir, the same planet on which Sabine found the darksabre much earlier.
Sabine and Ezra got married and had children who were force-sensitive and followed the way of the Mandalorian as well. Soon after the birth of his children, he found out he was the descendant of Darth Revan, a legendary Sith Lord so powerful he could summon meteors upon a planet, the same Sith lord who declared the rule there can be only 2 Sith at a point of time in the universe, before that the Sith also functioned like the Jedi, upon this revelation he joined the dark side, took the mask and lightsaber of his ancestor Darth Revan and became Darth Revan II, and spread chaos again in the galaxy. After taking his ancestor’s mantle as Darth Revan, Ezra became a very skilled duelist. Much like his ancestor, he often utilized the style of Jar’Kai (same as Ahsoka) as he often fought with two lightsabers when fighting an opponent. He was also much stronger in the force, being able to utilize both light and dark side powers much like his ancestor was able to do.
But there were clear signs of this happening in the past as, in 4 BBY, Bridger learned that his parents were killed attempting to escape from prison. The young Jedi, already having struggled with his dark side, became more conflicted, coming to a head on the ancient Sith world of Malachor where he recovered a Sith Holocron in the hopes of destroying the Sith. He also encountered Darth Maul, who hoped to make Bridger his apprentice, particularly once Bridger used the dark side to open the Holocron, former Sith apprentice, Maul, who taught him the basic philosophy of the Sith and encouraged Bridger to use his anger to strengthen him. After the loss of Ahsoka Tano (she comes back later) and the blinding of his master, Ezra was determined to never allow his friends to be harmed again. Due to this and the influence of the Sith Holocron, Bridger started to fight more aggressively, such as killing stormtroopers rather than stunning them. During the last 6 years of the Galactic Civil, Ezra donned the mask and robes of his ancestor in honor of his legacy.
The Weirdly Wired Family Tree
Sabine Wren and Ezra Bridger had 3 children; Mira, Kaidon and a third unknown child, who was and is still by many thought to be Rey Skywalker herself, also Skywalker is just a last name taken by Rey in respect, she is officially Rey Palpatine Solo.
Mira Bridger Wren: a Jedi-Mandalorian who was brainwashed by Joruus C’baoth a dark Jedi (Sith) and former light Jedi to join the first order, while under the brainwash she killed without mercy and displayed an animalistic rage toward the First Order enemies. Mira viewed her former self with disdain, seeing her as weak, undisciplined and naive. She was unquestioningly and gleefully obedient to Joruus C’Boath, General Hux, X1, Yeado and Captain Phasma. During her time under the First Order control, Mira took pride in being the object of General Hux’s desires and spoke of bearing his children and raising them as Sith but she was freed before Hux could act on his intentions toward her. Sabine punched the brainwash out of Mira and after she was completely freed she begged Sabine and Ezra (by this time Sabine had also literally punched the will-to-be sith out of Ezra as well) to kill her several times.
Mira was bi-sexual and had both male and female love interests, she even had a crush on Ben Solo during their academy days. Yes, Ben Solo ( the nephew of Han Solo, NOT the son [also Kylo-Ren]), along with Jaicen and Jaina Solo (the actual children of Han Solo and Leia Organa [ there was a third younger child, Anakin Solo] all trained under Jedi Grandmaster Luke Skywalker in his Jedi Temple on Ossus ( BTW, the first apprentice of Luke in Ossus was Grogu (the baby Yoda), the adopted child of Din Djarin[The Mandalorian]). Mira looks up to Hera Syndulla, Ahsoka and Mara Jade as well.
Kaidon Bridger Wren: While not having the same level of power as his father, Grandmaster Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano, Kaidon was able to hold his own against Force wielders with the strength of a Jedi Master or a moderately experienced Sith.
Third Unnamed child: much less is known about this child, we just know he joined the dark side and was a close associate of Darth Caedeus. He is important as his existence confirms, that Rey is a Palpatine, not Bridger Wren.
Conclusion
We learn quite a lot from Star Wars:
Peace can never be eternal, finding the balance and facing the struggle is what life is all about.
How powerful you are and what you use your power for is completely in your mind and heart.
Lightsabers are freaking awesome.
As a reader and watcher, Star Wars is always amazing and despite this might seem quite a bit this is not even 1 percent of the lores.
It might be easier to learn how to wield the force or how to forge a real-life lightsaber than to know it all, but I still very highly recommend you attempt it.
May the Force be with you!
Also Read: A Sneak Peek Into The Mandalorians!
