Ahsoka episode 5, titled “Shadow Warrior,” was a thrilling viewing experience, one that saw Ahsoka reunite with her former master Anakin from beyond the grave. Plenty of fans had eagerly been anticipating this confrontation, and Ahsoka delivered, giving us a glimpse of a live-action Clone Wars-era Ahsoka for the first time. But something just as exciting, maybe even more so, is in store for us in the final upcoming episodes. For the first time on screen, Star Wars is headed to a new galaxy.
[Warning: Discussion of spoilers for Ahsoka episode 5, and theories about what may be ahead for the series below!]
We’ve heard mentions of dwarf satellite galaxies in Star Wars, such as the Rishi Maze and Firefist. But never before have we gone all the way out to a fully distinct galaxy within the canon. At the end of Ahsoka episode 5, Ahsoka and Huyang set off in the mouth of a purrgil in pursuit of Sabine. Their destination, presumably, will be an entirely new galaxy, one that no one has been to before (at least not for a very long time).
But what adventures and perils will this new galaxy hold for Ahsoka and company? Here are a few theories about what they might find on the other side.
A new galaxy and new order of Force users
In the main Star Wars galaxy, both the Jedi and Sith have been extremely influential forces in galactic history, politics, wars, and culture. It seems likely, then, that another order of Force users could reign supreme in this new galaxy. The possibilities are endless. The galaxy could be one of harmony and balance, under the guidance of a perfect order of light-side Force users.
On the other hand, this galaxy could be fully corrupted by the dark side, under the rule of something akin to the Sith order. This could serve as a vision of a dark, alternate galaxy, where the dark side has triumphed. (Thrawn would probably be right at home in such a galaxy.)
Alternatively, the new galaxy’s Force users could be entirely different. Neither dark nor light. This could be a very fascinating way for Star Wars to explore different aspects of the Force. Whatever the case, if there is an order of Force users in this new galaxy, it will be interesting to see how Ahsoka will interact with them, and how Ezra and Thrawn have been living alongside them.
The nature of the Force itself may be different
It seems safe to assume the Force exists pretty much everywhere in the Star Wars universe. But that doesn’t mean it’s treated or used in the same ways everywhere you go. The Force is vast, infinitely complex, and inscrutable by nature. It’s not a stretch, therefore, to imagine there might be some variation throughout it. Most of what we know about the Force comes from within the Star Wars galaxy, so a different galaxy might have a very different experience of the Force.
Ahsoka connecting with the Force in a different galaxy could make for a great step in her journey. Perhaps Ezra, who has been living in this galaxy for years, will teach Ahsoka about the differences in the Force between galaxies, and help her adapt and learn.
The origins of the Nightsisters
An author at Screenrant theorized that the new galaxy is the source of the Nightsisters of Dathomir’s magick. Adding on to the theory of the Force working differently in the new galaxy, perhaps magick is how the Force manifests in this new galaxy.
To extend this even further, perhaps this galaxy is where the order of the Sisters originated from. Why else would there conveniently be a map to the new galaxy in an ancient Nightsister temple? The sisters could have traveled between galaxies in ancient times using the map. They very well could have come from that galaxy, and gotten stranded on Dathomir long ago.
This could also spell an interesting development for Lady Morgan Elsbeth. (After all, she hasn’t exactly been the most complex character up to this point.) Maybe in the new galaxy, she ends up reconnecting with that galaxy’s version of the Nightsisters. She could increase her own magick power as well, becoming a much more formidable foe.
Possible Ahsoka Tie-in with Skeleton Crew
Details about the upcoming Skeleton Crew series are sparse. However, we do know that it will be set in the New Republic era, the same time as Ahsoka and The Mandalorian. It will revolve around a group of children lost in space. Some fans speculate that Skeleton Crew will take these lost children to the new galaxy. With that in mind, there’s a chance Ahsoka may encounter the Skeleton Crew characters in the new galaxy. This would make Ahsoka a backdoor pilot for the new series.
The Yuuzhan Vong
For those unfamiliar with Star Wars Legends, the Yuuzhan Vong are one of the most infamous non-canon additions to the Star Wars saga. They are one of the only species confirmed to come from a different galaxy.
Caught in the midst of an AI war that ravaged their entire galaxy, the Yuuzhan Vong became warriors to survive. But in the process, they became an extremely warlike, imperialist species that worshiped violence and death. They possessed extremely unique and advanced biotechnology that made them a deadly opponent for the Jedi. After becoming fully cut off from the Force, they fled their own galaxy, which they’d rendered uninhabitable during their conquest.
Their invasion of the Star Wars galaxy was detailed in the New Jedi Order novel series, published from 1999-2003. This conflict became known as the Yuuzhan Vong War. It was the most brutal, violent, and costly war the galaxy had ever seen, claiming hundreds of trillions of lives.
Many fans have speculated that the new galaxy in Ahsoka may signal the start of the Yuuzhan Vong War. I think it’s unlikely that we’ll get an on-screen adaptation of the Yuuzhan Vong War for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it directly conflicts with Disney’s version of post-Battle of Endor Star Wars, as the Yuuzhan Vong War and the sequel trilogy would have taken place in a similar timeframe.
Secondly, and more importantly, I would imagine many audiences (as well as Disney) would consider the Yuuzhan Vong War too dark for mainstream Star Wars. The conflict is notorious for being exceptionally bloody and horrific. Given the unfathomably high casualty count, it seems unlikely that Disney would want to adapt such a bleak, depressing, and mature Star Wars story for mainstream audiences.
But that doesn’t mean the Yuuzhan Vong will never appear in the canon. Ahsoka and Huyang just might exit hyperspace smack dab in the middle of the Yuuzhan Vong galaxy, and have to fight their way to Sabine and Ezra. This would make for an unexpected, but likely exciting, season finale. It would appease many hardcore Star Wars fans, as well as make for a thrilling, action-packed couple of episodes.
Ahsoka could find Ezra in a post-apocalyptic galaxy
Whether because of the Yuuzhan Vong or something else, it’s possible this new galaxy will be a desolate one. It’s possible these last couple of episodes of Ahsoka will suddenly be tonally darker if Ahsoka finds herself in a post-apocalyptic galaxy.
Whether because of war or some cataclysmic cosmic catastrophe, this new galaxy may not be full of life at all, but rather dead and empty. Ahsoka journeying through a galaxy full of dead planets and ruins could be extremely haunting stuff. Moreover, it would remind the heroes to be grateful for the galaxy they have. Messy and chaotic as it is, it is still teeming with life and energy.
This may have huge implications for Ezra as well. If this galaxy is a dark and dead one, Ezra likely would have had to fight hard to survive. He would become battle-hardened, cynical, maybe even more dark-side. Maybe he even had to enlist Thrawn’s help to survive. The two of them could have ended up depending on each other and becoming uneasy allies.
What do you think we’ll see in the new galaxy revealed in Ahsoka?
Whatever the case, the next three episodes of Ahsoka are sure to have huge implications for the Star Wars universe as a whole.
Ahsoka is currently airing on Disney+. What do you think will happen in the new galaxy? What will Ahsoka find there? What are your theories? Let us know on social media @mycosmiccircus or in The Cosmic Circus Discord!
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