The newStar WarsDisney+ seriesAhsokahas drummed up a lot of conversation about the franchise’s overall reliance on pre-existing characters and stories. This is largely becauseAhsokabuilds directly upon many of the stories established in both theClone WarsandRebelsanimated series.
In addition to the show’s eponymous character being featured heavily in both shows,Ahsokaalso brings back numerous coreRebelscharacters like Sabine Wren, Hera Syndulla, Ezra Bridger, and Grand Admiral Thrawn. Even many of the supporting characters in the show, like Ryder Azadi, Carson Teva, andthe droid Huyang, have been featured prominently in previousStar Warsshows.
However, it is a bit unfair to say thatAhsokadoes not deliver any new and original material. In addition to the new story that Dave Filoni is weaving with this series, there have also been a handful of exciting new characters. These characters are some of the best that have been introduced into theStar Warsfranchise in a long time, and we expect that some of them will be important to other stories moving forward. With that said, here are seven of the best newStar Warscharacters that have been introduced inAhsoka.
7Baylan Skoll
One of the central antagonists ofAhsokais the former-Jedi turned mercenary, Baylan Skoll. He was a young Jedi Knight during the Great Jedi Purge and the takeover of the Galactic Empire. He survived the tragedy, but somewhere along the way, he lost his faith in the Jedi Order entirely. Since then, he has been operating as a mercenary for hire alongside his apprentice, with whom he freed the witch Morgan Elsbeth from her captivity and set the story ofAhsokain motion.
Skoll has been played by the great Ray Stevenson, whose nuanced performance makes for one of the most dynamic villainsStar Warshas had in a while. Sadly,Stevenson passed awayearlier this summer, prior toAhsoka’s debut.
6Lieutenant Lander
One of the more minor, but still interesting, new characters introduced inAhsokais the New Republic pilot Lieutenant Lander. Alongside Captain Carson Teva, Lander joined Hera Syndulla in an unauthorized mission to assist Ahsoka and Sabine in their investigation of the planet Seatos. When they arrive, the group attempts to stop Morgan Elsbeth’s giant hyperspace ring from jumping, and their failure costs the lives of several pilots in their group. Lander is one of the few survivors, and he is later seen aiding in the search for Ahsoka on the planet’s surface.
What makes Lander an interesting character is the fact that he is played by Brendan Wayne, one of the actors responsible for playing the physicality of Din Djarin, the lead character inThe Mandalorian. It’s cool to see Wayne actually get a chance to show his face on-screen, and we hope to see Lander continue to be a staple of the New Republic in the same way that Teva has been.
5Jacen Syndulla
Okay, we know the character of Jacen Syndulla was technically introduced in the series finale ofRebels, but that was merely an acknowledgment of his existence rather than any meaningful exploration of who he is. It is inAhsokathat Jacen, the son of Hera Syndulla and the Jedi Kanan Jarrus, is actually given speaking lines and a full personality. He is still just a child, but it’s clear that he is fairly inquisitive and has inherited some of his father’s aptitude for the Force.
It’s likely that Jacen will become a Jedi at some point, perhaps with training from either Ezra or Sabine. More than perhaps any character in this show, Jacen is teed up to have a long future inStar Wars. While it might take more than a little good writing to explain where he was in the sequel trilogy, we’d love to see an adult Jacen show up inthe New Jedi Order filmalongside Daisy Ridley’s Rey.
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4Morgan Elsbeth
Morgan Elsbeth is another character that was technically introduced in another series before this, but it wasn’t until her inclusion inAhsokathat she was really given anything meaningful to do. In her singular appearance in the second season ofThe Mandalorian, Elsbeth was little more than a generic villain character that was solely there to give Ahsoka Tano somebody to fight.
However, in theAhsokashow, Elsbeth’s character has been developed significantly. It was revealed that she is a descendant of the Nightsisters of Dathomir, which gives her some supernatural abilities and connection with the Force through witchcraft. She has been the driving force behind the search for Thrawn, and through that, she has proven to be a formidable and intriguing antagonist for this series.
Star Warsfans love a good mystery character to incite endless theories regarding their identity. That was true with Kylo Ren in the lead-up toThe Force Awakens, it was true of Supreme Leader Snoke prior toThe Last Jedi, and the same has proven to be true with Marrok. Even though the masked Inquisitor turned out to be nobody of consequence, the speculation surrounding the role was still a lot of fun while it lasted. Looking at how the character’s story actually played out, it’s still pretty satisfying, and it’s classicStar Warsthrough and through.
He’s a cool-looking henchman that serves as a solid threat to the heroes, making for some great action sequences along the way, but then he’s killed off somewhat unceremoniously. That hasn’t stopped some fans from continuing to theorize about Marrok though, with some believing that he was a deceased Inquisitor who had been reanimated through the Nightsister magic of Morgan Elsbeth.
Related:Star Wars: Will Hayden Christensen Return as Anakin Skywalker Again After Ahsoka?
2Captain Enoch
In yet another example of a villainous henchman with a cool design, Captain Enoch is one of the top-ranking Night Troopers under the command of Grand Admiral Thrawn, and his armor has instantly made him a fan-favorite. Portrayed by Wes Chatham, the character follows in the footsteps of other uniquely-designed high-ranking Stormtroopers like Captain Phasma from the sequel trilogy.
With a Roman Empire-inspired golden faceplate adorning the front of his helmet rather than the traditional visor, Enoch feels notably more brutal and intimidating than any other trooper to date. It’s likely that Enoch will continue to serve as one of Thrawn’s chief officers throughout future appearances in projects like Dave Filoni’s upcomingStar Warsfilm, perhaps even replacing the role of Rukh from theHeir to the Empirenovel.
1Shin Hati
Finally, one of the most interesting new characters that has been introduced inAhsokais Shin Hati, played by Ivanna Sakhno. As the apprentice to Baylan Skoll, Hati serves as a foil of sorts for Sabine Wren, Ahsoka’s apprentice. While Skoll and Hati are not Jedi by any means, they are not Sith either. They lie somewhere in-between, and Skoll states that he is training Hati to be more than either. She can be a bit impulsive and brash as an apprentice, making her somewhatsimilar to Darth Maul.
It’s likely that she and Sabine will come to blows again before the end ofAhsoka’s first season, and we would hate to see that be the end of the character. We’d love to see her fully grow into whatever form of Force wielder Baylan is training her to be and, in turn, become a complex and fearsome new villain for the franchise moving forward.
