2. Confronting Death Watch (S4 E14: A Friend in Need)
Although the Jedi continuously preach the virtues of nonattachment, Ahsoka more than occasionally falters in her attempt to walk that path. Lux Bonteri taps into this side of Ahsoka more often than not, so when he embarks on a daring escapade to enlist the help of the murderous Death Watch, our favorite Togrutan has no choice but to shield her friend from the extreme danger in which he finds himself.
A Friend in Need brings us an Ahsoka who is extraordinarily comfortable in her own skin. Beginning the episode side by side with Padmé further concretes their professional and personal relationship, and her solo decision to help Lux is never questioned by anyone who could claim to be her superior.
Ahsoka’s sense for moral justice also shines brightly from the moment the pair enters the Death Watch camp on Carlac. Whether it’s the use of droids for barbaric target practice or the kidnapping of the local population for sport and service, Ahsoka’s disgust at the mistreatment of others is apparent every moment.
The episode’s climactic battle between Ahsoka and the leaders of Death Watch (including our introduction to the fascinating Bo-Katan) serves as an action-packed encapsulation of everything that we’ve learned about this Jedi through this point in the series. She springs into action when the locals are slaughtered despite having no weapons, she pulls no punches as she devastatingly beheads her Mandalorian captors in a move that would make Anakin blush, and once her friend is out of danger, she gladly chooses to fly rather than indulge her anger by fighting Pre Vizsla to the death.
Ahsoka’s final decision to let Lux go could have eroded her faith and trust in her friends going forward, but her resolved sense of calm shows us that she is more than willing to accept and understand the gray areas of the conflict — a lesson far more Jedi should have taken to heart.