Why Ashoka Tano is the quintessential Jedi

“I am no Jedi.”

Those chilling words were said by former Padawan Ahsoka Tano as she faced off against her former Jedi Master Anakin Skywalker, who had become the ruthless Sith Lord Darth Vader before their duel in the Sith Temple on Malachor.

While Ahsoka renounced her affiliation with the Jedi Order, one can argue that she is the quintessential Jedi. And one can also argue that in a way, she foresaw the fall of the Jedi Order.

Ahsoka’s story begins in the Clone Wars animated series where she is a Jedi Padawan during a volatile time which saw a galaxy split in two and the erosion of the Galactic Republic as corruption metastasized within it. Little did Ahsoka and the Jedi know, along with the galaxy, the Order that was a beacon of peace, would be forever altered by the conflict.

The Clone Wars was not the first conflict that saw Jedi involved with soldiers of the Republic. During the High Republic era, the Jedi and the Republic took on the Nihil after the barbaric marauders were responsible for the Legacy Run incident that shook the galaxy to its core.

However, the Clone Wars further drove the Jedi, keepers of peace, to becoming soldiers and generals. In contrast, the Jedi Knights from the High Republic era were just willing to help those in need without taking on a militaristic role

While Ahsoka did make a difference in the Clone Wars as a commander, formed close bonds with many of her comrades, notably Anakin, his master Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Clone Trooper Captain Rex, she did not ask to become a soldier. And it was her role as a soldier that made her question what the Jedi Order was becoming.

After the Jedi Temple was bombed toward the final years of the Clone Wars, Ahsoka’s view on the Jedi and their role in the galaxy. While interviewing a woman involved with the bombing, the padawan was framed after the latter was Force-choked. As a result, the Jedi Order was quick to believe that Ahsoka had orchestrated the bombing which led to her becoming a fugitive.

Ultimately, Ahoska was found innocent when Anakin discovered that it was her friend and fellow Jedi, Barris Offee, who was behind the bombing and the murder of the woman involved.Offee’s reason for the bombing was that the Clone Wars had made the Jedi Order corrupt and evil

Despite the Jedi Order apologizing to Ahsoka, the fallen Bariss’s words seemed to resonate with her. As a result, Ahsoka not only left the order that she once served, but left the person who was the closest thing to an older brother to her: Anakin Skwalker. The Jedi she once saw as family, with the exception of Anakin, did not look after her and she felt alone.

Ironically, Ahsoka’s self-imposed exile from the Jedi Order would make her realize what it is to be a true Jedi.

While living in Level 1313, which is in the lower levels of Coruscant, Ahsoka would befriend Trace and Rafa Martez, two sisters who have dreams to make it out on their own. Ahsoka would hide her Jedi past from her friends as they traveled on Trace’s ship the Silver Angel and she learned that the Jedi were responsible for the death of their parents. After revealing her Jedi past to the sisters and rescuing them from the Pykes Syndicate,  Ahsoka was reminded of what the Jedi Order stood for: helping those in need. This would lead her to join Mandalorian BoKatan Kryze in her plan to overthrow the former Sith Lord Maul and reclaim Mandalore.

Prior to the Siege of Mandalore, Ahsoka would reunite with Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Rex. She and Bo requested the assistance from the Republic to send Republic clone troopers to help aid in the siege. However, Obi-Wan would argue that such a move would break several treaties and cause another war. Another roadblock would appear when the Jedi and the 501st legion were called back to Coruscant instead of aiding Mandalore due to the Capital planet being under attack by the Separatist.

Ahsoka would criticize the move and tell Obi-Wan that his refusal to aid Mandalore was seen as playing politics and a reminder of why so many had lost faith in the Jedi Order. Anakin would ultimately give Ahsoka a contingent of 501st troopers, including the now Commander Rex to help aid her and Bo Katan in reclaiming Mandalore.

After the galaxy saw the fall of the Republic and the Jedi Order, Ahsoka still helped others in need.

The Disney animated series Star Wars: Rebels would show Ahsoka’s willingness to help others despite the Empire sowing seeds of fear. Her role as he agent Fulcrum, would help sow the seeds of hope in the form of the Alliance to Restore the Republic which would defeat the Galactic Empire in the Battle of Endor and further topple it in the Battle of Jakku.

In the TV series, The Mandalorian,  she would assist the Mandalorian Din Djarrin is helping Grogu find a Jedi would would teach him the ways of the Force; the Jedi would turn out to be Anakin’s son, Luke Skywalker.

In The Book of Boba Fett,  she would also help with the founding of Luke’s new Jedi Order and convince him of his decision to ultimately let go of Grogu so that the foundling could return to Djarrin.

Once more, Ahsoka is spurned to help Mandalorian Sabine Wren and twilek Hera Syndulla look for their comrade and Jedi Ezra Bridger and bring him home. Bridger, like Ahsoka, learned what it was to be a Jedi through his adventures with Jedi Padawan Kanan Jarrus, former Caleb Dume and their band of rebels called the Spectres which Wren and Syndulla were a part of. The Spectres mission was to help those in need, Just like how the Jedi were supposed to be. Just like Ahsoka Tano.

Ahsoka premieres on Disney+  on August 23 with two episodes.