The Star Wars sequel trilogy showed the downfall of the New Republic at the hands of the First Order, but Ahsoka continues to highlight why the Empire’s successor fell so easily. The return of the opening crawl in Ahsoka episode 1 informed audiences that Diana Lee Inosanto’s Morgan Elsbeth had been captured by Ahsoka Tano in The Mandalorian season 2 and was en route for a trial. Elsbeth never reached her destination, however, as the New Republic cruiser she was aboard was easily destroyed by Force-wielders Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati.
The opening sequence of Ahsoka shows yet again that the New Republic was weak, easily overpowered by competent adversaries. While Jedi and other individuals trained in the ways of the Force are quite powerful, the New Republic’s hubris is the reason why Baylan and Shin were ultimately successful. Before it could be featured in all its glory, the New Republic was destroyed by the First Order’s Starkiller Base in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The ease with which the galactic government was overthrown baffled many, but Ahsoka demonstrates why the New Republic’s demise was inevitable.
The New Republic Couldn’t Actually Keep A Prisoner
Nightsister Morgan Elsbeth is the second antagonist to escape New Republic custody this year alone. Elsbeth was freed before her trial by Baylan Skoll and his apprentice Shin Hati, just as Moff Gideon was freed before facing a tribunal by his troopers wearing Mandalorian beskar armor in The Mandalorian season 3. With two high-profile prisoners escaping, it makes one wonder who else may have fallen through the cracks. If ex-Imperials know it’s easy to break free of New Republic custody, they won’t be afraid of getting caught in the midst of subterfuge.
Moff Gideon was a high-value target; his rank in the Empire meant his arrest and trial would have shown the strength and competence of the New Republic. He was instead able to easily escape, and conspiracy theories about his fate spread. While Morgan Elsbeth wasn’t nearly as high ranking within the Empire as Gideon, she does have strong ties to the missing Grand Admiral Thrawn, and her prison transport should’ve been more heavily fortified due to previous failures. The New Republic’s inability to protect and keep their prisoners highlights bigger issues that would eventually lead to their downfall.
The Republic Was Full Of Imperial Sympathizers
As highlighted in Ahsoka episode 2, the New Republic shipyard on Corellia was full of Imperial sympathizers who were still building hyperdrives for Morgan Elsbeth. While it’s true that an empire cannot become a republic overnight, it’s problematic that something as important as ship manufacturing wasn’t properly overseen by New Republic officials. With things like shipyards being vulnerable to Imperials, it’s no wonder the New Republic would fall so easily to the likes of Kylo Ren and the First Order. As more Star Wars content reveals the incompetence of the New Republic, audiences will see how Ahsoka leads to the sequels.
Ahsoka releases new episodes Tuesdays at 6pm PT / 9pm ET on Disney+.
