“Always two there are, no more, no less. A master and an apprentice” is how Master Yoda described a pair of Sith lords, but it’s also suitable for the many Master and Apprentice pairs seen throughout the franchise. Wherever an aspiring Jedi is found, their masters won’t be too far behind. Ahsoka is paying special attention to the Master and Apprentice dynamic, in particular, to the one between Ahsoka Tano and Sabine Wren.
However, the series gives Star Wars the addition of not one, but two aspiring Jedi. Sabine is the obvious one, but in Part 3, “Time to fly”, Kanan and Hera’s son, Jacen Syndulla, also announces that he wishes to be a Jedi. This can only mean one thing, that in the not-so-distant future, someone will take Jacen on as a Padawan. That someone should unquestionably be Ezra Bridger.
Here’s a look at why there’s no better candidate to train Jacen than Ezra Bridger:
Ezra has the maturity to train a Padawan:
Ezra has gone through everything possible. He’s out there somewhere, even if he hasn’t been seen in many years, and has likely gone through even more which has made him wiser. The wiser the master, the better a teacher they will make. Ezra suffered the loss of his parents at a young age, lived through the reign of the Empire as their presence grew to suffocating levels on his home planet of Lothal, and then fought side by side with his Master and friends during the Rebellion. No one understands war and the pain of losing his loved ones better than Ezra, but the great thing is, he’s overcome everything. Over time, Ezra went from a confused, rebellious child carrying trauma stemming from the loss of his parents, to a brave Jedi, who made the sacrifices necessary to save his friends. By now, he should be more than ready to take on the responsibility of a Padawan.
Ezra knows Jacen’s entire family:
Kanan is the obvious connection between Jacen and Ezra, but he’s not the only one. Ezra is a lot like the missing family member that Jacen hasn’t met yet, but will probably meet very soon. Just like “Aunt Sabine”, it is very likely that Ezra will end up forming a close bond with Jacen. He’s grown up on a ship flown by Hera, bickered with Jacen’s favorite droid, Chopper, and run around the galaxy with Aunt Sabine and Uncle Zeb. Who better to train you than someone who knows your entire family? This will make for a bond that will be equally fulfilling for both Ezra and Jacen.
It is the best way to honor Kanan:
Ezra wasn’t ready to lose Kanan when he did, but he went on to do everything Kanan would’ve wanted him to. Their relationship started off shaky and Kanan wasn’t too sure of what he was doing as a Master. He learned along the way, and Ezra floundered between what’s right and wrong in his desire to protect his loved ones, but eventually when the time came, he chose to do the right thing. All of Kanan’s teachings paid off and Ezra would make the best possible teacher for Jacen Syndulla because they both have a lifelong, invisible connection between each other due to Kanan. Kanan died before Jacen could know him and what he was like, and who better to tell Jacen all about his father than Ezra? Ezra accepting Jacen as a Padawan will be the start of another beautiful master and apprentice relationship in Star Wars, and be the first instance when a Master can pass on a father’s teachings to his own son. As George Lucas famously said, “it’s like poetry, it rhymes.”
Ahsoka is streaming now on Disney+.