Ahsoka: What the Anakin Skywalker reveal means for the show
This article contains spoilers for Ahsoka episode 4 “Fallen Jedi.”
Ahsoka has featured many shocking and thrilling moments so far, but for me, none were as emotional as the return of Hayden Christensen playing Anakin Skywalker. In the final moments of “Part Four: Fallen Jedi,” Ahsoka finds herself face to face with her old master. Frequent rumors had discussed Anakin making an appearance, but nothing prepared me for the joy I would feel hearing him say “Hello, Snips,” reverting to the nickname he once used for his padawan.
This moment, although short, has significant implications for Ahsoka’s future. We have seen through the previous episodes how much guilt and pain Ahsoka feels over the loss of her master. In Star Wars Rebels, Ahsoka came face-to-face with the person Anakin became with the rise of the Empire. Through their confrontations, Ahsoka also battled with her conscience, feeling responsible for Anakin’s conversion to the Dark Side as Darth Vader.
The weight of her decision to leave the Jedi Order is clearly ever-present in her mind. For the first time since The Clone Wars finale, Ahsoka has the chance to speak with Anakin, not as Vader, but as the person she looked up to and cared for. Before they parted ways for the last time, right before Anakin’s turn to the Dark Side, so much was left unsaid between them. They were both grieving the loss of their close relationship and trying to find a path forward that would never come to be. This conversation could help heal their broken ties and relieve Ahsoka of the hurt that has followed her since the fall of the Order.
The shot of Ahsoka turning to see Anakin behind her is reminiscent of a moment in Rebels when Ahsoka, Kanan Jarrus, and Ezra Bridger visit a Jedi temple on Lothal. Within the temple, she experiences an illusion where Anakin blames her for leaving him behind, reflecting her inner remorse about his fate. In this Force illusion, Anakin appears behind her, much like he does in this episode. In the temple, when she turns around, overcome with emotion, the illusion disappears, robbing her of the chance to confront her pain. This time, when Ahsoka turns, she is met with the smiling face of her master, hinting at the redemption she may soon experience in the next episode.
Ahsoka’s emotions are also likely creating roadblocks in her mentorship with Sabine. With Anakin’s guidance, she can become a better teacher to Sabine. She can find a path to understanding their differences, as Anakin once did with Ahsoka. When Ahsoka was Anakin’s padawan, her recklessness and spunky attitude often led her into trouble, but he was always there to help her grow from her mistakes. Ahsoka has struggled to be that kind of guide for her own padawan, but this visit with Anakin has the potential to change that. As Huyang said, they are going to be better together. Through the lessons Anakin taught her and may continue to teach her, Ahsoka can grow to be the master she needs to be to support Sabine.
We can only hope Anakin will also show her how to reunite with Sabine in the new galaxy. All I know is that it will be an exceptionally long week as we wait to discover the fate of the characters we have come to love.
This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, Ahsoka wouldn’t exist.