Ahsoka: 9 examples of Episode 4’s title ‘Fallen Jedi’

Ahsoka’s “Fallen Jedi,” written by Dave Filoni and directed by Peter Ramsey, showcases many possible examples of who that title alludes to. Let’s take a look at the possible Fallen Jedi.

1. Marrok

The first challenge Ahsoka must face after she and Sabine easily dispatch Baylan & Morgan’s troops outside their T-6 is to square off against Marrok.  The aesthetic is that of an inquisitor (something out of Jedi: Fallen Order or Obi-Wan Kenobi). However, their death by Ahsoka’s swift blade reveals something else may be going on when they evaporate into green smoke.  The color scheme might suggest that Morgan Elsbeth, a Nightsister, had something to do with Marrok’s involvement (perhaps she used Dark Force witchcraft to conjure a previously fallen Jedi).

2. Ezra Bridger

Though Marrok was not revealed to be Ezra Bridger or Starkiller, Ezra (a powerful Jedi in his own right) is still missing from the equation.  According to the rest of the Star Wars Rebels crew, their comrade has fallen, and who knows where Ezra’s allegiance lies since he spent his days in a distant galaxy with their enemy Grand Admiral Thrawn. The second half of the season will reveal this new galaxy and hopefully shed light on the whereabouts of these missing characters.

3. Kanan Jarrus

Although not yet mentioned by name, Kanan Jarrus is a powerful Jedi from the Ghost crew who was in love with Hera Syndulla. He also trained Ezra Bridger, who is now missing, and he had a child with Hera named Jacen.  When the villains escape via Eye of Sion into hyperspace in search of Thrawn, Ezra, and the new galaxy, this leaves Hera, the surviving members of the Phoenix Squadron (including Paul Sun-Hyung Lee‘s Carson Teva), and her son Jacen Syndulla who exclaims possibly through Force intuition “Mom, I’ve got a bad feeling.”

4. Shin Hati

Regardless of the Light or Dark side affiliations, Baylan Skoll clearly deeply respects the Jedi Order, even if he has already lost his faith.  His apprentice, Shin Hati, is being trained meticulously, almost like a Padawan (complete with the Obi-Wan-like braid in her hair). As an apprentice eager to learn from and ultimately become more powerful than their master, it is such wasted potential that Shin chooses to keep pursuing the Dark Side as opposed to following the Light path to becoming a Jedi.

5. Baylan Skoll

Baylan is a fascinating character study of a Jedi who escaped from Order 66 and has lost his way.  Paralleling Ahsoka’s journey, Skoll represents a former Jedi who has walked a different path, embracing the Dark rather than the Light side of the Force. Ray Stevenson’s portrayal of Baylan Skoll has been harrowing, both besting Ahsoka in physical combat & using cunning Dark Side manipulation tactics to convince Sabine to give him the map and accompany him on the long journey to find Ezra.

6. Sabine Wren

Sabine has tried to train under Ahsoka to become a Jedi, despite feeling no connection to the Force. On this second attempt, she ultimately fails to follow Ahsoka’s teachings and cannot make the ultimate choice to preserve the welfare of the galaxy over the urge to find one of her only remaining friends or family in Ezra Bridger. It doesn’t take much convincing from Baylan Skoll for Sabine to make this dark choice, as he knows well enough that her mind dwells on her attachment to Ezra and will take the fall.

7. Ahsoka Tano

While Ahsoka is more than capable of using the Force, showing countless times that she will fight for what is right, she did technically walk away from the Jedi Order and her Master, Anakin Skywalker.  This much is taunted at during her battle with Baylan Skoll, who tells her, “Your legacy, like your Master [Anakin]’s, is one of death and destruction.”  From Baylan’s point of view, and quite literally, when she gets put off balance and thrown from a cliff into the water in defeat, Ahsoka is the ‘Fallen Jedi.’

8. Anakin Skywalker

No discussion of ‘Fallen Jedi’ would be complete without mentioning the ultimate example in Anakin Skywalker (yes, the character that ‘The Skywalker Saga’ of nine films is centered around).  When Ahsoka falls from grace, she awakes in a realm that exists outside of time and space known as the World between Worlds (also featured in Star Wars Rebels season two finale titled Twilight of the Apprentice).  She hears the following and turns around to face none other than her former Master, Anakin Skywalker himself: “Hello, Snips.  I didn’t expect to see you so soon.” Who knows what their encounter will mean for Ahsoka’s journey to catch up with Sabine, defeat Thrawn, and possibly save Ezra as Ahsoka enters the second half of its eight-episode season.

9. Darth Vader

While many of this episode’s nods to its title of “Fallen Jedi” are literal or implied mentions, the episode does end on a haunting note from none other than Darth Vader’s theme music.  From Star Wars’ original trilogy, Darth Vader has always been the strongest example of a ‘Fallen Jedi’ and, ultimately, one of the greatest redemption arcs in cinematic history. At its base, Vader’s theme playing could just be Ahsoka’s fear creeping in that this version of Anakin (likely a version that has not yet turned to the Dark Side) will ultimately head down a dark path, but could it be that this Anakin is not the Master that Ahsoka knew and loved and has already been murdered by Vader?

Ahsoka airs exclusively on Disney+.