The 3 Times Ahsoka Tano Saved The Entire Galaxy
By: David Brandon Hyland
Tags: Star Wars, Television, Heroes, Star Wars The Clone Wars, Character

Ahsoka Tano — Photo: Lucasfilm, of The Walt Disney Company

Many people believe the Skywalkers to be the main protagonists of the Star Wars saga. Those people are absolutely correct. The first two trilogies and other related material points to the journeys of Anakin Skywalker and his son Luke Skywalker on their prophesied journeys to defeat the Dark Side and bring ultimate balance to the Force. However, one might be surprised to note that, by numbers, the entire well-being of the galaxy has been protected by Ahsoka Tano more times than either of the Skywalkers. Here’s an exploration of Ahsoka Tano’s galaxy-saving heroics:

1. Ghosts of Mortis

Photo: Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 3, Episode 17 — “Ghosts of Mortis” — Lucasfilm, of The Walt Disney Company

During The Clone Wars Season Three (in an arc titled “Mortis”), Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Ahsoka were lured into the realm known as Mortis: an ethereal dimension and conduit to the Force itself. There, they found the Mortis gods: the Son (the physical embodiment of the Dark Side), the Daughter (who represented the Light), and the Father (who had balanced the two for thousands of years). During their stay, the Son manipulated and turned Anakin to the Dark Side. When Obi-Wan learned of this catastrophe, he told Ahsoka that Anakin had fallen to The Son’s influence and that together the two would wreak havoc throughout the galaxy if they were allowed to leave. Ahsoka dismantled a part of their ship to prevent that very havoc. It may not have been a moment as glamorous as typical acts of heroism, but it is a moment that still counts nonetheless.

2. Twilight of the Apprentice

Photo: Star Wars Rebels Season 2, Episode 22— “Twilight of the Apprentice: Part 2” — Lucasfilm, of The Walt Disney Company

In the Season Two finale of Star Wars: Rebels, Ahsoka, Kanan Jarrus, and Ezra Bridger traveled to the planet Malachor at Yoda’s instruction. There, they fell upon an ancient Sith temple that, unbeknownst to them, was also a super-weapon capable of wiping out all life in the universe. When Vader arrived, he declared to Ezra that the power within the temple would service the Emperor. Before eliminating Ezra, however, Ahsoka faced her master in what’s probably the most heart-wrenching scene in the entire series. Granted, Vader’s goal was probably not to wipe out all life in the universe like the temple’s voice said it could. But even still, if it weren’t for Ahsoka’s efforts, the Emperor would have had access to a power that would have granted him absolute dominance over the galaxy. And with it, all hope would have died.

3. A World Between Worlds

Photo: Star Wars Rebels Season 4, Episode 13— “A World Between Worlds” — Lucasfilm, of The Walt Disney Company

In the episode, A World Between Worlds, of the final season of Rebels, something similar happened. In this episode, Ezra stumbled out of a portal from Lothal’s Jedi Temple and into the quote on quote “world between worlds”, an otherworldly plane of existence that acted as a proverbial highway connecting all of space and time. Due to the supernatural properties of this place, Ezra witnessed the thought-to-be final moments of Ahsoka’s life and pulled her out of the way before Vader could land a killing stroke. Not long after that, the Emperor revealed himself from the other side of one of the other portals and attempted to use Sith Alchemy on Ezra to pull himself into the nexus. Fortunately, Ahsoka cut the Emperor’s grasp on Ezra before the Emperor could pull himself inward. Yet again, if it wasn’t for Ahsoka’s presence, the Emperor would have gained access to an unimaginable amount of power (this time over space and time), ensuring complete control.

Comparison

So, is Ahsoka Tano a grander hero than Anakin and Luke Skywalker? It is the author’s opinion (that’s me) that it doesn’t. First of all, heroism can’t necessarily be measured in a cup. If heroism could solely be defined as a long list of of feats that courageously benefitted others, then I suppose so. But to be a hero is more than to have legendary accomplishments; it’s to be selfless and sacrifice yourself for the good of others. Who could truly measure that? Selflessness and sacrifice are far from competitions.

Even beyond this philosophical notion, Ahsoka Tano may have saved the galaxy from an incomprehensible amount of turmoil across the galaxy, but Anakin Skywalker and Luke Skywalker saved a galaxy that was already in turmoil. This isn’t to say that one is better than the other. Ahsoka Tano’s heroics embody fearlessness; whereas Anakin and Luke Skywalker’s journeys embody hope. And isn’t hope one of the thematic firstfruits in Star Wars to begin with? Who’s to say that preventing three potential crises is a bigger feat than a large crisis that already existed to begin with?

Conclusion

Simply put, by virtue, Ahsoka Tano is just as much as a hero as Anakin and Luke Skywalker is; by history, it can’t be said for sure. Ahsoka Tano saved the galaxy from the living incarnation of the Dark Side, an ancient super-weapon falling into evil hands, and nefarious dominion over space and time. Meanwhile, Anakin and Luke Skywalker saved the galaxy from the most insidious force to ever rule the far-reaching span of said galaxy. No one can objectively say that one form of heroism is surely better than the other. But, Star Wars: The Clone Wars fans can rest assured with a newfound awareness that Ahsoka Tano is, indeed, a galaxy-saver.

God bless, God first

David Hyland