It's always satisfying when one Star Wars project connects to another and expands on a previous idea. Recently, the Star Wars anthology series, Tales of the Underworld, made a surprising connection to Obi-Wan Kenobi.
The great thing about this is that by connecting both shows, Star Wars is rewarding fans for watching animated shows. This is something we've seen often in the franchise over the last few years, beginning with The Mandalorian and continuing with other shows like Ahsoka. Several characters from animated series like The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels were brought to life on The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, and Ahsoka, including Ahsoka Tano, Sabine Wren, Hera Syndulla, Chopper, Cad Bane, and more.
Tales of the Underworld is the latest show to delve into the Hidden Path, which was last explored in the live-action series, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and video game, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. The Kenobi series revealed the concept, which seems more necessary as time passes and Star Wars reveals more survivors of Order 66. Fans have questioned how so many Force users survived Order 66 and lived despite being hunted by Darth Vader's Inquisitors. Even though Obi-Wan discovered Quinlan Vos's connection to the Hidden Path in the Kenobi series, Star Wars hasn't revealed who founded it until now.
"The Path" is an underground network that takes Force sensitives and surviving Jedi to safety after the fall of the Jedi Order and the Republic. It was introduced in live-action on Obi-Wan Kenobi, and its discovery led to Obi-Wan finding out that his old friend, Quinlan Vos, was alive. Vos wasn't just alive, he was one of the key members of the network, which had safehouses in different locations throughout the galaxy.
Tales of the Underworld revealed that Quinlan Vos established The Path, which smuggled survivors of Order 66 and operated on Daiyu, Mapuzo, Jabiim, Jedha, and Tanalorr. In Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Path enabled Master Obi-Wan Kenobi and young Princess Leia Organa to get to safety, ensuring the young Princess could return home to Alderaan.
In Tale of the Underworld, Asajj Ventress meets Lyco Strata, a young Jedi who tells her that Quinlan Vos established The Path, which has helped many Force-sensitive beings escape the Empire. Ventress helps Strata locate The Path, hoping to meet Quinlan Vos again. Vos and Ventress were lovers, and she sacrificed her life to save Vos in the novel Star Wars: Dark Disciple.
Ventress was laid to rest on Dathomir by Quinlan and Obi-Wan, but she escaped death in exchange for sacrificing her love. While Ventress ultimately decides not to meet him, Strata changes his mind and chooses to stay with Ventress, but this is unlikely to be the last time we hear about The Path.
Star Wars will surely explore this concept again in another show, as it's pivotal to why so many force users are alive after the fall of the Republic and why we see them in Mandalorian-era projects such as Ahsoka and Skeleton Crew.
Tales of the Underworld is streaming on Disney+.