Ahsoka: 3 benefits of exploring a new galaxy in “Far, Far Away”
By Ian Walter
Ahsoka: Part VI – Far, Far Away takes us beyond the known galaxy, and Star Wars is better for it!
With only two episodes left in the debut season of Ahsoka, our characters have finally made it to Peridea, a planet in a new galaxy that serves as the original homeworld of the Nightsisters and Nightbrothers of Dathomir. Baylan Skoll has been eager to venture there with his apprentice Shin Hati to answer a higher calling and go back to the beginning – to a time before an endless cycle of war befell the Star Wars galaxy. The Great Mothers and their precious cargo are eager to escape this galaxy with Grand Admiral Thrawn, suggesting there may be a far greater threat out there that they wish to run from. Uncharted territory and never-before-seen aliens are all exciting additions to Star Wars that this new galaxy “Far, Far Away” has to offer, which isn’t necessarily beholden to the content that has come before in The Skywalker Saga.
Here are 3 benefits to exploring a new galaxy in Ahsoka.
1. Baylan Skoll’s Journey
Baylan tells Shin Hati that he used to hear children’s stories and folktales of this galaxy at the Jedi temple. There is a lot to enjoy from all Star Wars content, but many fans have been clamoring to move on from The Skywalker Saga and experience something completely new, and this new galaxy is an opportunity to do just that. Baylan cautions that with age comes the wisdom that this inevitable cycle of war will keep repeating itself and seeks an ancient power that will help him destroy the status quo and create something new.
Of course, Baylan’s outlook is foreshadowing a truth that history will repeat itself in the form of The First Order supplanting the Empire and the resulting Sequel Trilogy. However, his path is intriguing because he is concerned with neither Jedi nor Sith and is exploring new depths of mythology that remain a mystery to everyone. If Baylan carried out his mission in the known galaxy, we might be less invested as we already know the trajectory of stories to The Rise of Skywalker. Sending Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati on a journey of self-discovery as their true motivations begin to unravel is a thrilling angle that teases a big payoff.
When Baylan sees the Great Mothers, he is reaffirmed that the old stories must be true and is convinced that they are trying to flee with Thrawn because of an even bigger entity that beckons him. Back on Seatos, he seemed skeptical of the witchcraft at work in order to make the ‘dreams and madness’ a reality, but now that he has seen Peridea’s purrgil graveyard first-hand, he has a renewed confidence in his plight. He tries to convince Shin Hati with these words:
“Something calls to me… can’t you hear it? Something stirs here… can’t you see it?”
2. Great Mothers and Night Troopers are just what the doctor ordered
There is a Shakespearean quality to the three Great Mothers, bearing a resemblance to the witches from Macbeth, and their power is just what Thrawn needs to not only survive in this strange world but also to thrive once he can return home. With the Nightsisters (and Nightbrothers such as Darth Maul) being all but wiped out in The Clone Wars Season 4, Episode 19 “Massacre” on Dathomir, Peridea being revealed as their original homeworld offers a great opportunity to continue their legacy in Star Wars. Although there are a handful of survivors, including Morgan Elsbeth and Merrin of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, perhaps the mysterious cargo that they wish to ship out with Thrawn presents a way to repopulate their presence in the known galaxy moving forward. The curious title of Night Troopers suggests Nightsister’s dark magick is involved (similar to Marrok, perhaps), so could Thrawn’s forces have been kept alive by the Great Mothers (kintsugi style) in this faraway galaxy?
3. Fresh faces and new terrain
Sabine meets a Howler to ride through Peridea with and encounters a new Noti race of hermit crab-like people who know Ezra Bridger’s whereabouts. The trek to this new galaxy allows leeway for new and old fans alike to experience new wonders and meet new creatures and characters without necessarily having to dive into the known mythology and calculate how it all fits into the universe. Ahsoka offers a unique experience that reminds the audience how vast the Star Wars universe really is, and venturing to an unexplored galaxy allows for some unexpected thrills around every corner.
Stay up to date on all things Ahsoka here at Dork Side of the Force.