A simple yet powerful Force ability from Star Wars Rebels was key to that show’s finale, and has now unlocked an entire new Star Wars galaxy. The main character of Star Wars Rebels is the Jedi apprentice Ezra Brider, a teenager from the planet Lothal who becomes involved in the Rebel Alliance but is lost in another galaxy. One of Ezra’s key and prominent abilities is the power to communicate with animals through the Force, which he uses on many occasions. Some of these instances are very story-significant, including the show’s climatic Battle of Lothal.
Ezra’s power is an impressive one, ultimately demonstrated in the Star Wars Rebels finale, when he summoned a flock of purrgil to assist in defeating Grand Admiral Thrawn. The quest for Ezra Bridger became the driving force for the Ahsoka Disney+ TV show. What nobody expected, though, was for this particular Force power to unlock something even more incredible.
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Star Wars Rebels Focused On The Force Power Of “Projective Empathy”
Ezra Bridger’s Natural Aptitude For This Force Ability Proved Essential For The Rebels
Rebels focuses on Ezra’s connection with animals in many different episodes, which leads to a variety of instances of the power known as “Projective Empathy” being used. Initially, Ezra has some sort of natural connection with wildlife, seemingly because of his homeworld of Lothal. Lothal’s wildlife, such as Loth-cats and Loth-wolves, are seen prominently throughout the series as a representation of the planet’s nature and its power. Ezra’s power seems to be connected to this natural aspect of the Force present on Lothal (Lothal even had its own Jedi Temple), and it manifests itself in his natural talent for Projective Empathy.
Ezra uses Projective Empathy to communicate with creatures like the fearsome fyrnock at Fort Anaxes in season 1, and the peaceful tibidee in season 2. The Star Wars Rebels Season 2 Sourcebook, by Oliver Queen, describes this ability as a power that “allows a Jedi to connect with creatures on an instinctual, emotional level. If successful at using this power, the Jedi is able to sense a creature’s emotional state and intentions, as well as project his own, in a mutually understood way.” This is exactly what Ezra did most prominently with the Purrgil during the final battle of Lothal, where the tentacled whales pulled him and Thrawn to a then-unknown destination.
Projective Empathy Was The Key To Traveling To Peridea
Ahsoka Could Only Reach Peridea With The Unique Force Ability
This all became important once more when it was discovered that Ezra and Thrawn were in fact stuck in a different galaxy, on a planet only known as Peridea. Upon missing the villainous Morgan Elsbeth’s transport to the distant world, Ahsoka needed another route there, and channeled Ezra in her solution to this problem. Ahsoka rose into the clouds on her Jedi shuttle and used Projective Empathy to communicate with a Purrgil, convincing it to hold her ship in its mouth and take it to Peridea.
If this new galaxy is now as important as it seems to be, utilizing this kind of natural transportation will be much more important for those wishing to travel there. As odd as it sounds, the future of Star Wars storytelling may lie in the mouth of a space whale, communicated with through the Force using this one specific power, and leading to a new galaxy full of new narrative potential.
All episodes of Ahsoka are available on Disney+.
Ahsoka
Ahsoka is a Sci-Fi television series based in the Star Wars universe developed by Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni. Starring Rosario Dawson, this series follows Ahsoka Tano as she works with Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo), her trusty droid Huyang (David Tennant), and Hera Syndulla (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) to prevent the return of the villanious Grand Admiral Thrawn. Ahsoka acts as a live-action continuation of the animated series Star Wars: Rebels.
- Release Date
- August 23, 2023
- Cast
- Rosario Dawson , Natasha Liu Bordizzo , Hayden Christensen , Eman Esfandi , Ivanna Sakhno , Mary Elizabeth Winstead , Ray Stevenson , Genevieve O’Reilly , Lars Mikkelsen , Diana Lee Inosanto
- Seasons
- 1
- Streaming Service(s)
- Disney Plus
- Franchise(s)
- Star Wars
