Summary
TheStar Wars: Ahsokafinale featured the live-action debut of another iconic location from the animated entries in the franchise: Dathomir.
Star Wars:Ahsokais a spinoff of the widely acclaimed space westernThe Mandalorian,where titular hero Ahsoka Tano made her live-action debut after her last appearance inStar Wars: Rebels' conclusion. The character was first created byAhsokashowrunner Dave Filoni specifically for the 2008 animated featureThe Clone Wars,leadingto the character playing an essential role in the long-runningStar Wars: The Clone Warsseries and thenRebels.Filoni confirmedStar Wars: Ahsoka’sRebelsconnectionahead of the show’s premiere, revealing that it would have far more in common with its animated counterparts than it wouldThe Mandalorianand its live-action spinoffs.
After literally taking viewers to places beyond the iconic galaxy far, far, away,Ahsoka’s latest and final episode of season one brings them back in for a look at one of the franchise’s most iconic locations, adding anotherAhsokaeaster egg connecting it toStar Wars Rebels. In the finale, Thrawn escapes from the protagonists after their adventure outside their home galaxy and can be seen heading towards a blood-red sphere immediately recognized as the shrouded planet of Dathomir, brought into live action for the first time. The escape of the antagonist–revealed to be in league with powerful Dathomiri witches known as the Great Mothers–is the perfect setup for a rumored second season.
While this is the first time the iconic location has ever been shown in live-action, this isn’t the first instance of the enigmatic location’s influence on the show.Ahsokaepisode 4’s animated series connectionrevealed that ex-Inquisitor Marrok, one of the live-action show’s new original characters, was a Nightbrother, giving the show its first link to the Nightbrothers' home planet of Dathomir. The planet has also been featured extensively in theStar Wars Jedivideo game series and the animated series, both on screen and via references to it as the birthplace and home of fan-favorite characters Maul and Savage Opress.
Star Wars: Ahsokahas been generous to fans with its live-action representations of iconic places in theStar Warsuniverse, such as the enigmaticStar Wars Rebelslocation dubbed the World Between Worlds. Dathomir is an important location to the animated series' fans due to the role a few of its sons and daughters play in theRebelsandThe Clone Warsplots. It is also a favorite of older fans familiar with the wealth of lore surrounding the planet and its people in the now-relegatedStar Wars Legendscontinuity. Adding it to the live-action world is a great asset to future stories and characters that can now explore and interact with the mystical concepts it harbors.
In addition to its success being a boon for Disney and Lucasfilm when streaming is in flux,Ahsokaproves Filoni’sStar Warsfilm is in capable hands. The combination of deep lore understanding and exciting narrative skill will go a long way to bring together an easily divided fandom for what could be the future direction of theStar Warsfranchise. However, what the future holds for Dawson’sAhsokais yet to be determined.
Star Wars: Ahsokais currently available for streaming on Disney Plus.
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