The following contains spoilers for Ahsoka Episode 5, “Part Five: Shadow Warrior,” streaming now on Disney+.
Ahsoka Episode 5, “Part Five: Shadow Warrior,” just confirmed that Jacen Syndulla (Evan Whitten) is Force-sensitive.
While many fans assumed that Jacen inherited the ability to use the Force from his father, Star Wars Rebels‘ Kanan Jarrus, Ahsoka‘s fifth installment appears to make this supposition canon. Jacen’s apparent connection to the Force is demonstrated midway through “Part Five: Shadow Warrior,” when he alone can “hear” the duel between Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson) and Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) in the World Between Worlds. Previous episodes of Ahsoka established that Jacen dreams of becoming a Jedi Knight like his late father, and this feat suggests the green-haired tyke may have what it takes to do so.
That said, Jacen’s Force sensitivity wasn’t the most talked about aspect of Ahsoka Episode 5 in the hours following its release. Instead, that honor goes to the aforementioned lightsaber fight between Ahsoka and Anakin, which marks the first time the pair have traded blows since Star Wars Rebels‘ Season 2 finale, “Twilight of the Apprentice.” In that episode, Anakin was fully submerged in his Darth Vader persona, whereas here, Ahsoka’s former master shifts between his benevolent and malevolent incarnations over the course of their duel.
Ahsoka Director Talks Anakin Skywalker’s Return
The extended fight sequence no doubt caught many viewers off guard, given the happy circumstances of the Ahsoka/Anakin reunion in Ahsoka Episode 4, “Part Four: Fallen Jedi.” The episode’s director, Peter Ramsey, unpacked the moment the one-time duo came together again in a recent interview, recalling how he encouraged Christensen to lean into the familial dynamics of Anakin and Ahsoka’s relationship. “I just told him, ‘It’s like you haven’t seen your daughter in two years. She’d gone off to college and you’re seeing her again and she’s like a different person but still your daughter,'” Ramsey said.
Ahsoka is Christensen’s second small screen Star Wars project since he returned to the franchise with Disney+ miniseries Obi-Wan Kenobi. The star previously opened up about his decision to revisit a galaxy far, far away, making it clear that he immediately accepted Lucasfilm’s invitation to reprise the Anakin Skywalker role. “It was a no-brainer. In a heartbeat. When I got the call, I was instantly elated… I was just so excited to get to come back after all these years.”
New episodes of Ahsoka premiere on Disney+ on Tuesdays.
Source: Disney+