The Mandolarian continues its season 2 spree with “The Jedi,” and while the episode certainly satisfied some long-rumored plot threads, it also left fans with a slew of new questions to ponder. With only three episodes left before the hit Star Wars series goes on break again, the familiar faces and building tension just keep coming. Obviously, there will be many spoilers ahead, so be warned.
“The Jedi” wastes no time in showing fans what they’ve waited years for – the live-action debut of Ahsoka Tano. In the opening scene, Ahsoka lays waste to a squad of soldiers in a misty, desolate forest, demanding information from the local town’s magistrate. Faced with the prospect of innocents dying, the former Jedi retreats in stalemate. When Din Djarin and the Child arrive to look for her, they are asked by the magistrate to hunt her down in exchange for a beskar spear. Mando finds Ahsoka in the woods and agrees to help her in her mission, as long as she trains Baby Yoda (whose real name is revealed to be Grogu). United, the two unseat the tyrannical rulers of the town, and Ahsoka interrogates the former magistrate about the location of Grand Admiral Thrawn. In the end, Ahsoka refuses to train Grogu, instead sending our protagonists to planet of Tython, where the Force is very strong.
Overall, “The Jedi” does a stellar job of bringing Ahsoka into the world of live-action Star Wars, complete with a thrilling lightsaber/beskar duel and some stylish Force moves. The episode also opens up some interesting mysteries about the Child, revealing that he was raised in the Jedi Templer on Coruscant and somehow escaped after Order 66. And of course, the mention of Thrawn is sure to be exciting for both fans of Rebels and the old Extended Universe. There’s a lot to cover, so let’s jump right in.
Where Has Ahsoka Tano Been?
Seeing Anakin’s old padawan alive and well (and taking names) is incredibly satisfying for everyone who loved her in The Clone Wars and Star Wars: Rebels. But despite a stunning return, Ahsoka didn’t answer any questions about where she’s been and what she’s been doing since the end of Rebels. Those questions (understandably) weren’t even asked, and it makes her current mission a bit more of a mystery.
After the Galactic Civil War, Ahsoka went on a mission with Mandalorian Sabine Wren. They left in search of Ezra Bridger — a young Jedi who helped save the planet of Lothal by sucking Grand Admiral Thrawn and part of his fleet into hyperspace, sending them both far away from the battle and into the Unknown Regions of the galaxy. Ahsoka has clearly returned from those unknown regions, but was she successful in finding Ezra? And where was she during the evnts of the original trilogy, between Ezra's disappearance and the Battle of Endor? All that remains to be seen.
Why Is Ahsoka Looking For Thrawn?
Because Ezra and Thrawn were last seen together, it makes sense that Ahsoka would be hunting the former Grand Admiral of the Imperial Fleet. But is she searching for him in hopes of finding Ezra, or is there something more dangerous at stake? The idea that the magistrate — someone in the Outer Rim with serious ties to the old Empire — would know Thrawn’s whereabouts could suggest that he has returned from his forced exile and is lying in wait for a moment to strike.
If that’s the case, and Ahsoka feels she has unfinished business with the famed Chiss strategist, she could be hunting him down in the interest of the greater good. Still, the possibility remains that she is primarily on the hunt of for Ezra, or that something happened to her and Sabine during their search. Could Thrawn have killed one or both of Sabine and Ezra? Could Ahsoka be out for revenge?
Where Is Grand Admiral Thrawn?
A lot of these mysteries will be determined by where exactly Thrawn is, and what his role in the story will be going forward. The notion that the magistrate knew his location suggests that he is both back in action and plotting something major. That could mean he’s allied himself with Moff Gideon and the Imperrial remnant. After all, he was formerly one of the most powerful officers in the entire Imperial military. If he’s working with Gideon from behind the scenes, he could be the one orchestrating the Empire’s Force experiments and super-soldier program.
On the other hand, Thrawn might not be connected to Gideon at all. The Chiss Ascendancy – the empire within the Unknown Regions where Thrawn came from – has always had interests outside those of Palpatine and the Galactic Empire. Given Ahsoka’s theoretical journeys to the Unknown Regions, her search for Thrawn could be tied to the Ascendancy in some way. Whatever his intentions, they’ll likely have major ramifications going forward. Thrawn is, after all, one of the most feared villains in the entire Star Wars universe.
How Did Baby Yoda Escape From Coruscant?
Through Ahsoka’s Force communication with the Child, viewers now know a few things. His name is Grogu, and he was raised in Coruscant’s Jedi Temple in the final days of the Republic. He was trained by various masters of the Order, and he somehow managed to escape during Palpatine’s rise to power and the Jedi Purge. But how?
Given Grogu’s limited powers, small size, and childlike demeanor, it seems highly unlikely he escaped on his own. That means that someone must have helped him – someone who knew where he was, and who he was. But who, and why? Harder to answer. The most obvious pick seems to be Yoda himself. He and Obi-Wan return to the Jedi Temple to program a warning signal to all surviving Jedi, and they could have found and rescued Grogu at the same time (off screen, of course). There would have to be a reason then why Grogu isn’t seen at the end of Revenge of the Sith, and why he doesn’t end up with Yoda on Dagobah or Obi-Wan on Tatooine.
What Will Happen With The Child’s Force Powers?
How Baby Yoda escaped from Coruscant could also be tied to his own nature and abilities. Since nothing is known about Yoda’s species other than that they live very long lives and are incredibly adept in the Force, viewers don’t know how Grogu came to be on Coruscant in the first place. Was he created by Yoda? Could he be connected to the oft-forgotten Yaddle? His clear strength in the Force should have made him a priority for protection in the wake of the purge, which could explain why Ahsoka, Anakin and crew didn’t know about him.
All these mysteries open yet another question – just how strong is the Child, and how will his powers develop? His relationship with Din has already set him on a very different path than most young Jedi, and he could be set on a path that’s not-quite-Jedi, not-quite-Sith. Yoda was capable of amazing feats through his prowess in the Force, and Grogu could be destined for similar greatness. Perhaps the coming trip to Tython will lay some more answers about the Child’s future.
What Will Happen On Tython?
The planet to which Ahsoka has sent Mando and Grogu is relatively new in the current Star Wars canon, but it played a major role in the old EU. Tython, located in the galaxy’s Deep Core, was the birth place of the Order of Force users who preceded the Jedi. The planet held an incredibly profound connection to the Force, and it played a significant role during many moments through the ancient days of the galaxy.
Although much of that lore has been lost to the pits of not-canon, Tython still seems to hold major, ancient Force power. If Grogu does as Ahsoka suggested, he could attract the attention of other Force-sensitives, including Ezra Bridger and Luke and Leia Skywalker. Depending on the state of the temple and the power of the Force within, it could also be a site for the Child to seriously develop his already-potent Force abilities.
What Will Mando Do With His Mandalorian Artifacts?
While perhaps less pressing than the more immediately questions concerning Thrawn and the Jedi, there are still some building questions around Din Djarin’s growing collection of Mandalorian artifacts. He’s now in possession of both Boba Fett’s armor and a pure beskar spear — a weapon of ancient Mandalore. Although the series is currently focusing more on the Empire, the Child, and the Force, it will certainly loop back to the history and current status of Mandalore eventually. When it does, those artifacts could come in handy, one way or another.
Between Bo-Katan’s underground movement, Boba Fett’s mysterious intentions, and the yet-to-be-seen Sabine Wren, there are a number of Mandalorian factions in play at the moment. Eventually, a trip back to the home-world seems inevitable, as does a direct confrontation with Gideon for the ultimate Mandalorian artifact — the Darksaber. When that happens, Din now possesses a weapon capable of facing Gideon head-on, and it’s a duel viewers can’t wait to see on The Mandalorian.