Ahsoka Episode 5, “Shadow Warrior,” may not be the last time Ahsoka Tano sees her master, Anakin Skywalker. In fact, this may open a door that Ahsoka shut many years ago.
This may be a new beginning for them, and the next time Anakin shows up could be as a Force ghost. That meeting will be different, and Anakin will see a happier Ahsoka who’s ready to live and fight again and isn’t just going through the motions. It’s entirely possible that this meeting will happen before the end of the season, similar to the ending of Obi-Wan Kenobi, in which Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan saw each other after years once Obi-Wan has established his connection to the Force again. Qui-Gon tells Obi-Wan that he’s always been there, but Obi-Wan isn’t ready to see him. Perhaps that’s been the case with Ahsoka and Anakin as well until now.
Ahsoka and Anakin’s meeting in “Shadow Warrior” raises a few questions about Anakin. Was Anakin really there, or was it a dream? Is he a Force ghost or something else entirely? Many fans hoped that if Anakin and Ahsoka met, Anakin would tell Ahsoka about Luke and Leia. Based on the events of The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka already met Luke and knows Anakin is his father, so she’s probably aware that Leia Organa is Anakin’s daughter. But their Episode 5 meeting does not allow them to talk about these things, maybe Dave Filoni is saving that for future episodes.
There’s also the matter of Ahsoka fully accepting that, eventually, her master came back from the Dark Side, and that’s why she saw him in Episode 5. He was there when she was unconscious because he’s a presence in the Cosmic Force, a positive presence, not a Dark Side one, and he’s always looking out for her. It will be quite emotional if Anakin can tell Ahsoka this in person, along with the story of how he was finally able to save people he loves from death, including Luke, and Ahsoka herself. Even though in Episode 5 Anakin is the one to help Ahsoka move on from her trauma, she still may not have understood what this really means and that it’s a sign that Anakin was redeemed before his death.
Just like in legends, where Anakin is a constant presence in Luke’s life even after death, Anakin can now be a presence in Ahsoka’s life, and the connection that was severed between them decades ago can be revived. Instead of running away from Anakin’s memories and teachings, Ahsoka can reach out to him for guidance and find him there whenever she needs him, allowing her to embrace their bond once again. Hopefully, that’s the direction Dave Filoni has in mind for their relationship.
Ahsoka is streaming on Disney+.