Star Wars Rebels: The origins of Ahsoka the White
Photo Credit: New Line Cinema
Not only do Ahsoka and Gandalf share wardrobes by the end of Rebels Season 4, they share similar character journeys, especially if you go back and chart Ahsoka’s Star Wars Rebels path from Season 1
Throughout the first film in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Fellowship of the Ring, Gandalf the Grey serves as the unofficial leader of the Fellowship. It becomes his duty to educate Frodo about the power, and subsequent dangers, of the One Ring. Gandalf leads the party before sacrificing himself for the good of his friends and falling prey to an ancient Balrog in the Mines of Moria.
For the remainder of The Fellowship of the Ring, Frodo and company, as well as the fans, mourn the loss of Gandalf and feel the harrowing weight of his absence. Fortunately, Gandalf returns in the second installment of the trilogy, The Two Towers, in the form of the White Wizard and becomes an integral part of the remainder of the series. Gandalf’s journey begins as a humble mentor who eventually faces down a far more powerful opponent before returning from certain death all the wiser.
Photo Credit: New Line Cinema
Ahsoka Tano’s journey seems to have been influenced by Tolkien’s depiction of Gandalf. Even before physically showing up, Ahsoka was helping to mentor and lead the Ghost’s crew. It’s revealed at the end of the first season of Rebels that Ahsoka is “Fulcrum,” the mysterious figure who provided the fledgling group of Rebels with information to help them fight the Empire.
Season 2 gave fans more Ahsoka action as she became an important part of the Rebels cast. The season, however, culminated in her showdown with none other than Darth Vader – her very own Balrog – in which she delayed her former master in order to let Ezra and company escape from the impending darkness on Malachor. The season 2 finale left fans wondering if Ahsoka had survived her encounter with Vader. We don’t learn it until two entire seasons later, but, just like Gandalf, Ahsoka did indeed survive certain death. In the World Between Worlds in season 4, episode 13, Ezra actually saved Ahsoka by reaching into the past and pulling her away from her dual with Vader.