Ahsoka Easter Egg Highlights Anakin’s Unyielding Desire for Revenge Despite His Redemption

In the recent episode of Ahsoka, an intriguing Easter egg from Star Wars Rebels reveals that Anakin Skywalker, despite his redemption arc, still harbors a desire for revenge. This appearance of Anakin excited fans because it marked the first instance of seeing both Anakin and a young Ahsoka Tano together in live action during the Clone Wars era. This reunion was facilitated through the World Between Worlds, a mysterious dimension that manipulates time and space.

However, whether what viewers witnessed was the authentic Anakin remains uncertain, as his likeness in the World Between Worlds diverges from how he appeared as a Force ghost in the finale of Ahsoka. Yet, it was established in Rebels that Ahsoka Tano navigated time in the World Between Worlds when Ezra Bridger rescued her from Malachor. This backdrop raises the question: has Anakin truly relinquished his thirst for revenge?

Anakin Utilizes Ahsoka’s Technique Against Her

Anakin Mirrors Ahsoka’s Maneuver from Rebels

Ahsoka Confronted By Anakin's Lightsaber in the World Between Worlds

Ahsoka’s initial journey into the World Between Worlds occurred in Rebels, where she confronted Darth Vader for the first time. This clash happened on Malachor, where Ahsoka initially sought to reach Anakin’s remaining essence before resorting to a lightsaber duel. While it appeared Ahsoka might meet her end, Ezra ultimately intervened and rescued her long after this critical moment.

Before her rescue, Ahsoka executed a cunning tactic: she severed the ground beneath Vader, causing him to plummet into a vast abyss. In the Ahsoka series, Anakin reciprocated this strategy when he cut the ground from under Ahsoka, leading her into a Clone Wars memory flashback. This direct counteraction suggests a connection between their past encounters.

Anakin’s Actions Are Characteristically Him

This Familiar Tit-for-Tat Behavior Is Classic Anakin

While Ahsoka does not explicitly indicate that Anakin’s actions were intended as a retribution for their Rebels encounter, the resemblance is striking. Such behavior is quintessentially Anakin, mirroring his character showcased throughout Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the only other series that deeply explored his dynamic with Ahsoka. Even when he was among the most formidable Jedi and mentoring Ahsoka, his tendency to seek vengeance lingered.

An unsettling instance that illustrates this trait is Anakin’s brutal revenge against the Tusken Raiders in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, where his attempt to avenge his mother’s suffering resulted in tragic and violent consequences. Even in less grave scenarios, Anakin often avoided letting minor offenses go unpunished. Thus, it appears likely that when he severed the ground under Ahsoka’s feet in the latest series, it was an echo of their past conflict.

Anakin’s Core Persona Remains Unchanged

Ahsoka Reveals Anakin’s Unwavering Nature

Anakin Skywalker in Ahsoka Episode 5 smiling and holding his lightsaber

Despite the ambiguity regarding whether Anakin in the World Between Worlds truly represents his authentic self, the transition between his Anakin and Darth Vader personas suggests a blend of illusion and reality that Ahsoka experiences. Nevertheless, it is evident that Anakin remains fundamentally similar in many ways, regardless of having shed his Darth Vader identity. His humor, tendency to provoke, and unmistakable thirst for vengeance are still present.

Looking ahead to the potential narratives in Ahsoka season 2, the possibility of Hayden Christensen reprising his iconic role appears plausible. Christensen has expressed interest in returning, and the conclusion of Ahsoka established that Anakin exists with Ahsoka on Peridea as a Force ghost. Excluding Anakin from the sequel season would not only seem illogical but also a missed opportunity for storytelling.

The dynamic of this Force ghost represents Anakin after what could be considered his redemption. As Ahsoka season 2 unfolds, it may reveal the evolution of Anakin following the original trilogy and the transformation that redemption and his passing brought. Ultimately, the connections drawn between these series highlight that Anakin Skywalker has preserved much of his innate personality, even in the present.

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