Apprentice reborn: The legacy of Ahsoka Tano

On January 29, 2008, Lucasfilm unveiled their newest creation, a character who was soon to make her film debut. She was a young Togruta Padawan to be trained by an interesting master —Darth Vader himself.

After the blockbuster success of Revenge of the Sith in 2005, fans were hungry for further details on the domain of Star Wars—particularly the period of time known as the Clone Wars that began at the end of Attack of the Clones in 2002. 

On Aug. 10, 2008, the movie The Clone Wars was shown in theaters, and later, had a nationwide distribution. Separating itself from its predecessor, the movie expanded upon itself, introducing characters never before seen. One of them was Rex, the clone captain working alongside Anakin Skywalker, the soon-to-be Darth Vader. Another character who stepped into the universe was Skywalker’s newly-acquired Padawan—Ahsoka Tano.

The Clone Wars movie received largely negative reviews and was considered the first Star Wars film to be a “flop.”  Critics also had much to say about Ahsoka, critiquing her bratty attitude and impulsivity. However, later in 2008, Lucasfilm began releasing the first season of The Clone Wars TV show, directly following the movie. 

Despite initial lukewarm ratings, the show picked up steam with fans as it progressed, season three being the turning point of many opinions. Throughout its release Ahsoka became more and more popular, no longer a throwaway many assumed would simply be killed off. Her recklessness juxtaposed with Anakin’s tactics became more and more admired, as well as her growing sibling-like dynamic with the elder Jedi. 

Knowing that he would fall to the Dark Side and become Darth Vader at the end of the war, the bond between Ahsoka and Anakin was watched with bated breath. In the heartbreaking finale of season five of the show, the bond was shattered as Ahsoka left the Jedi Order, leaving Anakin behind. The Clone Wars was canceled after a short 13-episode long season six, but that wasn’t the end of Ahsoka Tano.

After The Clone Wars was completed, Lucasfilm produced a new animated series titled Star Wars: Rebels set between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. Longtime fans were ecstatic when, at the close of season one, Ahsoka re-entered the canon as a contact working for the Rebellion in order to overthrow the Empire.  

She played an even greater role in season two as she tragically discovered the identity of the Sith Lord Darth Vader, culminating in a season finale worthy of the big screen and a duel for the ages. In 2020, however, she made one of her most stunning appearances to date, returning in all her glory in The Clone Wars: The Final Season. 

The eagerly anticipated seventh season of the show answered a long-held question about Ahsoka’s path after her choice to leave the Jedi, as well as what she faced during the events of Revenge of the Sith. With the most somber ending seen in years, The Clone Wars concluded on May 4, 2020, in the close to a phenomenon that had begun nearly twelve years ago—yet, Ahsoka’s character still remained strong.

It was on Nov. 27, 2020, when Ahsoka’s legacy reached what many would call its most significant moment. In the second season of The Mandalorian, the live-action TV show where a bounty hunter seeks out a Jedi to train his adoptive child, the titular character comes face-to-face with none other than Ahsoka herself. Portrayed by Rosario Dawson from Daredevil and the 2005 Rent, this was the character’s first step out of the animated realm of Star Wars.  

Despite only being present for a single episode of the show, fans went wild with excitement over seeing Ahsoka in live action. Their thrill only multiplied when it was announced that Dawson would be returning in Ahsoka, a new live-action series focused on the iconic character. The cast for this show has been slowly announced, but it does include familiar faces from her days in Star Wars: Rebels.

A release date for Ahsoka has yet to be announced, but it has been theorized that it could very well be on Aug. 10, the very date when she was introduced and began her long-lasting impact in Star Wars history and hearts. Her proper return will be watched for by fans new and old, ready to follow Ahsoka in the next leg of her adventures throughout the galaxy.