Ahsoka can develop the relationship between Star Wars Rebels’ Ezra Bridger and Sabine Wren once they’re introduced in live-action. Natasha Liu Bordizzo and Eman Esfandi have been cast as Sabine Wren and Ezra Bridger respectively, making it clear that Ahsoka will act as a sequel to Star Wars Rebels. Star Wars Rebels ended with an epilogue set after Return of the Jedi, in which Sabine clearly stated her intention to find Ezra after he disappeared into unknown space in the Star Wars Rebels finale. Ahsoka was set to help her on her journey, and this storyline was subsequently teased in The Mandalorian season 2 when Ahsoka was first introduced in live-action herself.
Though the search for Ezra is a storyline left over from Star Wars Rebels, Ahsoka will still be Ahsoka Tano’s show. As such, it will focus more on her experience of the journey than Sabine’s. However, the reunion between Ezra and Sabine is a moment that cannot be glossed over – they were incredibly close by the time Star Wars Rebels ended, and their emotions will likely be heightened by the time apart. Sabine will have been looking for Ezra for some time, and Ezra will have had to survive wondering all the while about his Ghost Crew family. The Sabine and Ezra reunion in Ahsoka can lead to a deepening of their relationship, as was consistently teased throughout Star Wars Rebels.
How An Ezra & Sabine Romance Would Fit Into Ahsoka's Story
A romance between Sabine and Ezra was hinted at throughout Star Wars Rebels’ 4-season run. When Ezra and Sabine first met, Ezra had an obvious crush on her, but their relationship deepened over the course of the show. Ezra’s lingering feelings for Sabine were implied continually, such as when he became extremely nervous over meeting Sabine’s family. Ezra’s insistence that Sabine would be the one to find him after he disappeared, and his obvious faith in her, indicated that his dynamic with Sabine was different from his dynamic with other members of the Ghost Crew, such as Hera Syndulla or Garazeb Orrelios.
The reunion between Ezra and Sabine in Ahsoka could be the start of a full-fledged Star Wars romance. Both will have matured since they last saw each other, and had time to sit with their feelings. Finally seeing each other after such a long time could unleash an onslaught of previously concealed emotion – relief, joy, and anxiety all rolled into one – as they realize how much they’ve always relied on one another and how that might change their understanding of their relationship. The progression of their relationship after their reunion likely won’t be featured in Ahsoka but could become an important part of any future Rebels-related projects.
Ezra & Sabine's Romance Would Continue A Star Wars Storytelling Trend
Romance has always been a staple of Star Wars storytelling. Two of its most prominent romantic relationships lead to major shifts in the galaxy – Padmé and Anakin’s romantic relationship was a factor in Anakin’s fall to the dark side and led to Luke and Leia’s existence, and Han Solo’s and Leia’s relationship led to Ben Solo/Kylo Ren. There hasn’t been a major Star Wars romance in a while, though – the romantic aspect of Rey and Ben’s relationship was short-lived, and aside from Kanan Jarrus and Hera in Star Wars Rebels, and the tragic relationship between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Satine Kryze, no other genuinely significant romances have taken place in Disney’s Star Wars universe so far.
A new romance between a Jedi and a Mandalorian could mirror Obi-Wan and Satine’s relationship in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and prove what could have been, and what might be in the future. The Jedi and the Mandalorians have a compelling and complicated history, and it could be further explored if Ezra and Sabine were to fall in love with one another. Ahsoka acting as a sequel to Star Wars Rebels presents many opportunities and challenges as well, but at the very least, it can be a new starting point for Ezra and Sabine’s relationship.