Star Wars Rebels’ Creative Use Of The Force Set Up Ahsoka’s Most Exciting Plot

The expansion of the Force in Star Wars Rebels perfectly set the stage for the exciting developments of the Force in Ahsoka. With Rebels, Dave Filoni reinforced that the Force goes beyond a power only accessible to the Sith and the Jedi. In the Rebels’ episode “Trials of the Darksaber,” Kanan Jarrus explains, “The Force resides in all living things, but you have to be open to it.” This builds upon a long history in the Star Wars franchise of Force-wielders who are neither Sith nor Jedi. In fact, two major examples of these Force-wielders are featured in Ahsoka: the Nightsisters and the Mortis gods.

In an interview about Rebels season 4, Filoni made it clear that this expansion was not only intentional but also an opportunity to be truer to the nature of the Force (via IGN):

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The Mortis gods are introduced in the third season of The Clone Wars series. The trio of gods, the Daughter, the Son, and the Father, represent the light side, the dark side, and balance in the Force, respectively, but they are explicitly outside the Sith/Jedi dichotomy. The Nightsisters are also introduced in The Clone Wars series, just three episodes before the Mortis gods. These Force-wielders interact with the Sith and the Jedi in various ways throughout the series, but they are separate from either religion.

Rebels built upon this awareness of other Force users, and Ahsoka took that one step further. Kanan’s explanation of the Force is in reference to Sabine Wren, who, in Rebels, is not a Jedi, nor is she presented as ‘having the Force’ or being ‘Force sensitive.’ However, the first episode of Ahsoka reveals that, after the conclusion of Rebels, Sabine began training as a Jedi under Ahsoka, attempting to harness the Force. Although she struggles in Ahsoka, by the first season’s conclusion, she has managed some very impressive moves with the Force.

This update is exciting because it reflects what George Lucas has long said about the Force: it does not belong to the Sith or the Jedi. Ahsoka drives this point home not only by including the Nightsisters but also by hinting at a possible return of the Mortis gods. The Ahsoka season 1 finale shows the gods as statues, suggesting that they may be brought back in a significant way. Of course, Star Wars Rebels and Clone Wars fans may not be surprised; Morai’s presence seemed confirmation enough.

Star Wars Rebels and Ahsoka are available to stream on Disney+.