Ahsoka: Analysis and Explanation of The First Trailer of The Disney+ Series
The wait is over, Star Wars fans can finally breathe a sigh of relief because the first of Ahsoka is finally out. We have to say, the images shown to go beyond any expectation, causing us quite a bit of goosebumps and not a little emotion. Every scene follows the style of Clone Wars, especially when it is she who enters the action, the former student of Anakin Skywalker. Not only that, but we also finally get to see live-action versions of the beloved Rebels characters. At Star Wars Celebration 2023, attendees went into raptures, including all the announcements of the event, from films to series. In short, the Lucasfilm panel left everyone speechless, including us.
Ahsoka: Analysis and Explanation of The First Trailer
Rosario Dawson and Natasha Liu Bordizzo also took the stage, winking at the great return of Ezra Bridger, who we know is played by Eman Esfandi. However, the images have revealed the arrival of many characters known to fans. The Ahsoka trailer hits the gas with action scenes, nostalgia moments and lots of Starwarsian mythology. We see lightsaber and space combat, new environments and a multitude of old and new characters. And that’s why we are going to do a frame-by-frame analysis of what we saw because it turned out to be more than we expected. So, no more talk, and let’s go with our analysis.
Ahsoka, Ancient Temples and Dark Menaces
The trailer kicks off with Ahsoka Tano. The ex-Jedi wanders hooded among the ruins of an old temple, in which various symbols are engraved. We hear Rosario Dawson say “Something is coming. Something dark. I perceive it”. Then using her two lightsabers he creates a gap and sinks into the temple. We don’t know where it is, but it is probably a place linked to the force, to the light and dark sides of the force. The location appears to have some resemblance to the Jedi temple of Lothal – seen in Rebels – but that’s unlikely to be the case. Next, we see Ahsoka collide with armored droids, armed with electric spears. It is not clear who they are, but they certainly play the role of guardians. Their appearance also resembles that of droids under the command of General Greyvous, complete with a cloak. We will certainly know more in the coming weeks.
Natasha Liu Bordizzo as Sabine Wren
After the temple scenes, the Ahsoka trailer shows the first image starring Sabine Wren, The Mandalorian from Star Wars: Rebels. Natasha Liu Bordizzo fits the role of the character perfectly, and it is curious to note how she now has long hair, unlike the shortcut seen in the animated series. At his side we also find the usual Loth-cats, belonging to the fauna of Lothal.
Hera Syndulla’s First live-Action Appearance
After Ahsoka and Sabine, it’s the turn of another Rebels character, part of the rebel crew. Let’s talk about Hera Syndulla, the Twi’lek alien who will be played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead in the series. We see her battling in the skies with her iconic orange-brown look; she is a Top-Gun in Star Wars sauce. But there can be no Hera without the trusty C1-10P Astro droid, renamed Chopper by the rebel Ghost crew.
The Sith Return Stronger Than Ever In The Ahsoka Trailer
“This is a new beginning. For some… war. For others, power”. It is with these words that Ray Stevenson marks the rhythm of the scenes that follow. We see him with a thick beard and black cloak, followed by the appearance of the character played by Ivanna Sakhno. The first takes on the role of Baylan, a Jedi who survived Order 66 and was subsequently corrupted by the dark side. The second, on the other hand, plays her pupil, Shin, who according to the latest rumors should belong to the sisters of the Night. We still don’t know how the Jedi fell victim to the Sith, but there seems to be Shin’s hand. The presence of Hayden Christensen as Darth Vader is also known, so his involvement cannot be ruled out. But let’s go ahead.
The Watchtower on Lothal
At one point, we see our Sabine watching ships fly over the watchtower on Lothal. Fans will have recognized this place right away, which is Ezra’s old house. The tower is also the last place we see Sabine at the end of Rebels, at the time with Ahsoka before setting off to find Ezra. Furthermore, it seems that The Mandalorian has made the tower her residence.
The Meeting Between Sabine and Ahsoka
It’s the first time we’ve seen the two women together since the Star Wars: Rebels finale. As mentioned earlier, the two were looking for Ezra, as evidenced by the episode of the second season of The Mandalorian in which Rosario Dawson’s Ahsoka made her first live-action appearance. However, she says that a lot has changed.
Mon Mothma, From Andor to the Events of Ahsoka
Genevieve O’Reilly returns as Mon Mothma following Rogue One and Andor. We must ask the character what creams she uses because she hasn’t aged a day, perhaps the same as Paul Rudd. Seriously, the Ahsoka series is set after the fall of the Empire, presumably five years later (as The Mandalorian timeline suggests). Chandrilan Politics now heads the galactic government of the New Republic. In the images of the trailer, Ahsoka seems to inform the council of a looming threat, shrouded in the shadow of the empire. That danger is represented by the return of an old enemy, who seems to have taken on Palpatine’s legacy.
Grand Admiral Thrawn… or at Least his Shoulders
“Rumors begin to circulate about Thrwan’s return as heir to the Empire”. Ahsoka warns his allies of imminent danger. We hear his voice, while on the screen appears a white uniform, black hair, and blue skin that leaves no doubt, that is Grand Admiral Thrawn.
Shortly after, a character known to fans of The Mandalorian and who appeared in episode 5 of the second season appears. She is Morgan Elsbeth played by Diana Lee Inosanto, Thrawn’s acolyte and former holder of the Beskar spear with which Din Djarin then had little Grogu’s chain mail forged.
The Fight Between Ahsoka and Baylan
Subsequently, the scenes become more adrenaline-pumping. We witness the duel between Baylan and Ahsoka in a mysterious, almost mystical place. Shin fights in space and Hera Syndulla prepares for the worst.
A Scene That Reminds Us of Darth Vader’s Best Entrances
We don’t know if it’s a freebie or not, but we think so. We are talking about a scene involving Baylan played by Ray Stevenson. The Sith, complete with black armor that makes him look like a medieval knight, walks inside a republic ship, making a clean sweep of the crew with a lightsaber and use of force. The man seems to be from the same parish as Anakin Skywalker we see him choke a soldier in one of the best entrances of the iconic villain.
Ezra Bridger, Where Is Thou?
“The Jedi have long since fallen, there aren’t many anymore”. Ahsoka talks about the fall of the Knights of Good, while the trailer shows us a hologram of Ezra Bridger played by Eman Esfandi. If after the final events of Rebels Thrawn managed to get back it is likely that Ezra did too. We don’t yet know how the two series will be connected, but it will be interesting to see which paths they have chosen for us.
Whom Does Ahsoka Fight Near the End of The Trailer?
In the final stages of the trailer, we see a fight between Ahsoka and a Sith. The latter has a double-bladed lightsaber, the same as the Inquisitors, but will he belong to this order? A theory has made its way among the fans, or at least among the longtime ones who remember the days of Starwarsian Legends. In Zahn’s novel, a very dear character was introduced, namely Mara Jade. She was a follower of Emperor Palpatine, before defecting, joining the Jedi order, and eventually marrying Luke Skywalker and with whom she would have force-wielding offspring.
Mara Jade, like Thrwan, was later written out of canon after Disney rebooted a new timeline for the sequel trilogy. And yet, if the Grand Admiral was fished out of that “alternative” universe, fans don’t see why the same can’t happen for Mara Jade. And it is for this reason that many suspect that she is hiding behind the helmet of the character seen in the trailer.
The Same Vibes of Clone Wars
The ending gives us many emotions. We see Dawson’s Ahsoka fight and move exactly like his animated counterpart. At a particular moment of hers, she sees her involved in one of the character’s iconic jumps, complete with a pose landing. Fans couldn’t ask for more, because management has been attentive to details like this.
David Tennant Reprises His Role as Huyang
“Maybe it’s time to start over” David Tennant‘s droid voice peeps right at the end of the trailer. Not only do we see the live-action version of Huyang, but the lightsaber also-making droid seen in The Clone Wars, at the time voiced by the actor himself. Once the images are finished, we see Disney+ background announcing the release date of the TV series, i.e. in August 2023.
