Warning! This article contains spoilers for Ahsoka episode 7.
The recent episode ofAhsokamade a significant leap into the narrative abyss. This conspicuous omission raises questions about the regard held for the non-screenStar Warsuniverse by TV producers and writers.
In the seventh episode ofAhsoka, while recounting the history of the Rebellion to Ezra, Sabine blatantly overlooked the pivotal Battle of Jakku, one of the first major stories Lucasfilm charted in the new Disney canon. The formal defeat of the Empire and the onset of a tentative peace were signaled by the decisive battle depicted in Chuck Wendig’sStar Wars: Aftermathtrilogy.
After Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2014, theStar Warsuniverse underwent a narrative cleanse, retaining only George Lucas’s cinematic opuses andThe Clone Warsseries. It left an expanse ready to be filled by new storylines and characters, spawning the sequel trilogy and the acclaimed seriesThe Mandalorian. Central to this new canon was the Battle of Jakku, narrated in theAftermathseries, signifying the Empire’s definitive downfall and the inauguration of the New Republic’s dominion.
In her conversation with Ezra, Sabine erroneously asserts the Empire’s defeat at Endor, negating the considerable turmoil and valiant combat that transpired leading up to Jakku. This narrative faux pas isn’t a standalone instance.Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalkerpreviously echoed a similar oversight, further muddying the canonical waters and diminishing the significance of post-Endor events.
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Understanding Ahsoka’s Omission and Its Implications for Star Wars Storytelling
The reasons for such an omission could be multifold. The series might be trying to align itself with what the majority of the audience is familiar with – the cinematic narrative. Fans witnessed the Emperor’s fall and the Empire’s seeming defeat at Endor. This major narrative moment is etched into the collective cinematic memory, and it’s a reference point that many can connect with, despite its inaccuracy.
However, this approach does a disservice to the expansive and intricate world carefully crafted in the literary dimensions ofStar Wars. Delving deeper into theStar Warsuniverse, these tales augment on-screen narratives by enhancing context and character evolution. Ignoring these aspects neglects the cohesive and interwoven storytelling that has been a hallmark of theStar Warslegacy.
Ahsoka’s lapse could be rationalized within the storyline as referencing a formal defeat of the Empire at Endor, with the subsequent battles being attributed to the Imperial Remnant. Yet, this rationale is thin, contributing to the dilution of the robust narrative architecture built around theStar Warsuniverse. It inadvertently relegates the importance of battles like Jakku and the literary contributions to theStar Warsnarrative to a mere footnote, rather than integral chapters in the epic saga.
But it’s not all gloom for the literaryStar Warsuniverse. In a promising turn, characters likeMarshal Cobb Vanth fromThe MandalorianandThe Book of Boba Fett, who made their debut in theAftermathseries, have made the transition from the page to the screen, holding their narrative integrity intact. This move is a positive stride in acknowledging and integrating the literary canon into the largerStar Warsuniverse, offering a more rounded and enriched storytelling experience for the fans.
TheAhsokaseries, releasing new episodes every Tuesday at 6 pm PT / 9 pm ET on Disney+, stands at the frontier of this narrative journey, holding the promise and responsibility of seamless and respectful storytelling across all mediums and eras of theStar Warsuniverse.
If you feel like going on a deep dive through Disney+, check out our video article of some of these forgotten movies (some for better, some for worse) that you’re able to stream now:
