Who is Ahsoka Tano from the Mandalorian?

 

The Mandalorian embarks Star Wars fans with a new hope (pun intended) for the franchise. Disney never could make any good live-action Star Wars film, except the Rogue One and Solo. Fans stopped believing Disney would ever give them any good major Star Wars film but then, we saw something: The Mandalorian. This show was as perfect as it can possibly get and we saw a lot of new characters and a few old ones like R2-D2 and our beloved Jedi Knight, Luke Skywalker (read about his surprise appearance in the show here).

And for the first time in live-action production, Disney also introduced us to Ahsoka Tano, a Jedi operating in the Outer Rim and unknown to the Empire. Many people simply ignored her and stuck with Din Djarin and Grogu while watching the show but they really haven't given her the credit she deserves. She is Ahsoka Tano, padawan to Anakin Skywalker during the Clone Wars. She had a strong connection to her master, Anakin and they had a lot of fun and life-threatening situations fighting alongside in the Clone Wars. Clone Wars fans must already know her and would have been very happy to finally see her in The Mandalorian. And FYI, Anakin gifted her the two lightsabers she uses in The Mandalorian. She was one of the very few Jedi(s) who survived Order 66.

Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano,
a still from Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Soon before the Clone Wars ended, she had parted ways from Anakin and the Jedi ways itself. She was certain to remain on the good side but knew that being a Jedi wasn't what she was supposed to be. She took the two lightsabers her master had given her and bid farewell. Her leave disheartened Anakin and was one of the reasons he was so stressed and angry right before he turned to the dark side of the Force. It all happened in a matter of hours: Ahsoka left, and Anakin turned to the dark side and fought Obi-Wan Kenobi (read why Anakin lost even after being more powerful here). 

Ahsoka also featured in the Star Wars: Rebels animated series and even fought Anakin Skywalker, this time from the opposite side. She felt responsible for his turn to the dark side. She later travelled to various places to do what Jedi would do if there were alive: maintain peace in the galaxy and ensure everyone's safety. She also served in the War at Mandalore where she met Bo Katan and other Mandalorians. That is how Bo Katan knew Ahsoka and could tell Din Djarin (the Mandalorian, title character) about her.

She was on the forest planet of Corvus searching for Ezra when Din Djarin shows up with Grogu. She immediately recognises Grogu's species as the same as Master Yoda's. She refuses to train Grogu because she saw that he had formed a deep connection with Din Djarin, which could harm him or others when he's fully trained. She even mentions a Jedi she knew who formed a deep connection with someone and how it sucked him into the dark side and resulted in the death of millions and the rise of the Empire. This Jedi was none other than Anakin Skywalker. She was referring to her old master who had turned to the dark side because of his love and affection for his dear wife, Padme. 

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Ahsoka Tano is getting her own Disney+ series as part of the ever-expanding Star Wars stale, which features the same actress as the one who played the character in The Mandalorian. This series is named 'Ahsoka' after the character itself and the release date is not revealed yet. Disney has also confirmed the production of the shows Boba Fett, and Kenobi, each based on the characters they're named after. Boba Fett will be out by the end of this year but until then.. may the force be with you.