Ahsoka: What’s happening in the other galaxy?
Warning: This article contains spoilers from Ahsoka’s two-episode premiere.
Ahsoka dropped a major bombshell in its premiere, revealing that Ezra Bridger and Grand Admiral Thrawn are currently in another galaxy. Ever since Ezra and Thrawn disappeared into hyperspace with the purrgil in the Star Wars Rebels series finale, fans have speculated about their location, with most assuming that they were stranded in the Unknown Regions.
Rebels needed to remove Ezra and Thrawn before the beginning of the Galactic Civil War but not get rid of them entirely, with the Rebels epilogue making it clear that there was a story left to tell of Sabine Wren and Ahsoka Tano searching for Ezra. The purrgil transporting them to a whole other galaxy explains why Ezra and Thrawn were absent for the entirety of the Galactic Civil War and why they are still missing in action during the New Republic era.
Introducing a new galaxy is one of the most intriguing aspects of Ahsoka so far. The idea is full of endless possibilities. What is happening in that other galaxy, and what will Ahsoka‘s heroes and villains discover when they travel there to find Ezra and Thrawn?
The Force works differently
In Rebels, Ahsoka says, “In my experience, when you think you understand the Force, you realize just how little you know.” This quote could take on further meaning by the Force working in a completely different way in this other galaxy than it does in the main Star Wars galaxy.
One’s connection to the Force could be heightened in this other galaxy, much like Planet X in Cavan Scott’s novel Path of Vengeance. The opposite end of the spectrum could also be true with the Force being much more difficult for anyone to tap into.
Either option seems like a fitting challenge for Sabine in her journey as a Jedi. With Professor Huyang confirming that Sabine’s Force powers are minimal, in this other galaxy, Sabine could experience for the first time what it is like to be deeply attuned to the Force.
If it is the other option, and connecting to the Force is more difficult in this galaxy, Sabine may have an advantage as she’s learned to be a Jedi and wield a lightsaber without relying heavily on the Force, which could give her a leg up over Shin and the other Force-sensitive adversaries. Limitations on the Force could also help explain Ezra’s struggle to find a way home.
The origins of the Nightsisters
Since the map to this other galaxy was kept on Arcana, a stronghold for the Witches of Dathomir, the new galaxy may be connected to the Nightsisters of Dathomir. This connection also makes sense since Morgan Elsbeth was revealed to be a Nightsister in the Ahsoka premiere, and she clearly knows about traveling to this other galaxy.
When Baylan Skoll recognizes their charted course on the map as the Pathway to Peridea, a legend once told by children at the Jedi Temple, Morgan says, “Some call it that” and that the fairy tales Baylan speaks of are “Tales which are based on truths.” All of this suggests that she has sufficient knowledge about the other galaxy.
While the Nightsisters have been part of Star Wars for many years, and there is some information about their origins, they are still an enigma in many ways. This new galaxy could be connected to their origins and shed more light on their abilities and how they are distinctive from other Force users. This could also connect to the idea of the Force working differently in this galaxy.
A new or familiar alien species
When Morgan, Baylan, and Shin Hati convene on the planet Seatos, they gather at what look like ancient ruins, which are a mechanism used to activate the map to the other galaxy. Baylan remarks that the ruins don’t look like the Jedi built them and asks whose work it is, to which Morgan replies, “An ancient people from a distant galaxy.”
The ancient people from a distant galaxy may be a new or familiar alien species. Morgan also believes that Thrawn is communicating with her across time and space, and a mysterious voice can be heard in the episode saying, “Morgan” when she says this, along with some indistinguishable and ominous whispering. Someone or something is communicating with Morgan, but it may not be Thrawn, and may actually be a species from this other galaxy, the species who originally built the mechanism on Seatos, and who may present an even greater danger than Thrawn.
The YouTube channel Star Wars Explained has speculated that if it’s a familiar species, this could include the Zeffo from Jedi: Fallen Order, the Grysk from Timothy Zahn’s canon Thrawn novels, or the Rakata, a species from Legends whom Luthen Rael briefly mentioned in Andor. Other possibilities from Legends include the Yuuzhan Vong or the Kwa.
Ahsoka could also introduce an entirely new species, especially since the species will seemingly originate from this galaxy which will be new for all fans. Whether new or familiar, this species may be part of the reason Ezra and Thrawn haven’t been able to return to their galaxy. This species may want to infiltrate or conquer the main Star Wars galaxy and are luring Morgan there with a plan to steal the Eye of Sion for themselves.
The new galaxy may also be where the purrgil are initially from, with their travels through hyperspace taking them between the two galaxies. Other species, like the purrgil, may be uniquely connected to the Force.
What do you think is happening in the other galaxy? Let us know in the comments below!
This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the Star Wars content being covered here wouldn’t exist.