Clone Wars Era ships make their return to Ahsoka
By Brian Adigwu
Warning: This article has spoilers for Ahsoka episodes 1 and 2.
Ahsoka Tano is not the only element from The Clone Wars to appear in her own show.
Two ships that could be considered characters in their own right have also made their live-action appearance in the Ahsoka series: The Eta-class shuttle and the T-6 shuttle.
At the beginning of the first episode, “Master and Apprentice,” an Eta-class shuttle hails a New Republic cruiser. The shuttle’s occupants reveal that they are “Jedi,” which catches the attention of New Republic officers, but their captain is skeptical and thinks they are Imperials.
It turns out that the New Republic captain was half right as the “Jedi” reveals himself to be fallen Jedi Baylan Skoll, who declared that he and his apprentice, Shin Hati, are not who they initially revealed themselves to be.
Skoll’s Eta-class shuttle seems to have a darker hue, perhaps symbolizing the former Jedi’s fall to the Dark Side. It can also be argued that it symbolizes his survival post-Order 66 after the fall of the Jedi Order right at the end of the Clone Wars.
In addition to Skoll’s Eta shuttle, there is Ahsoka’s T-6 shuttle, piloted by the former Jedi and her companion, Huyang, a centuries-old droid who served the Jedi Order and helped Padawans build their lightsabers.
The red-colored shuttle was last seen in the final episode of Star Wars Rebels and in the first episode of Ahsoka, which takes place soon after.
Although Ahsoka has since renounced the Jedi way since leaving her master Anakin Skywalker, the T-6 shuttle is aesthetically a ship made for a Jedi. This is probably because Huyang, who still adheres to the Jedi Code and customs, had made sure that the shuttle lived up to the Order it once served. The ship is a direct contrast to Skoll’s Eta-class shuttle since its exterior has a lighter and warmer hue while the interior is also a little gray which could represent Ahsoka’s independent nature.
What is unique and fascinating about both the Eta-class shuttle and T-6 is that they both are relics from a bygone era and are being seen in a volatile period that could see another war. Both ships have served the Jedi Order during the Clone Wars.
What is also fascinating about the appearance of these ships in Ahsoka is that they are flown by former members of a once proud order that swore to protect and serve the galaxy, and they represent the conflict between the Light Side and the Dark Side of the Force.
Both the Eta-class shuttle and T-6 shuttle were introduced to viewers in Dave Filoni’s The Clone Wars animated series, and we have seen various characters, from Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi to Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, fly these shuttles. In addition, Darth Sidious also flew an Eta-class shuttle when traveling to Mandalore to confront his former apprentice Maul.
Viewers are probably wondering how Ahsoka and Baylan got their hands on their respective ships despite the Galactic Empire getting rid of most of them, along with the Venator Class Star Destroyers representing the Galactic Republic and Jedi Order.
What other ships do you think we will see in Ahsoka? Will we see more Clone Wars-era starships or fighters like the Eta-2 Actis-class light interceptor flown by the Jedi Knights?
Ahsoka is now streaming its first two episodes on Disney+.