Warning! Spoilers ahead for Ahsoka episodes 1 and 2.
Summary
- Ahsoka Tano has been experimenting with the dark side, showing similarities to her former master Anakin Skywalker, who often defied the Jedi Council.
- She used a power often linked to the dark side, the Mind Probe, on Morgan Elsbeth to extract vital information and find the star map pointing to Thrawn.
- The use of a heavier Jedi Mind Trick, once seen as some as a dark side power, has been suggested by Ahsoka herself and raises concerns about the potential violence of dominating someone’s mind.
The Ahsoka show just confirmed that Ahsoka Tano has been experimenting with the dark side, potentially setting her up as a grey Jedi. Ahsoka is “no Jedi,” a point she has reiterated time and again after leaving the Jedi Order at the end of Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 5. She grew distrustful of the Order’s ways and their involvement with the Republic after being falsely accused of treason and never finished her training as a Padawan. And yet, during the Empire’s reign, Ahsoka diligently fought on the side of the Rebellion, defeating Inquisitors, keeping Force-sensitive children safe, and gathering vital intelligence – all things a Jedi would undoubtedly involve themselves with.
Over the years, however, Ahsoka has learned to do things her way. In that respect, she’s very similar to her old master, Anakin Skywalker, who often disregarded the Jedi Council and even Obi-Wan Kenobi’s advice to pursue things as he saw fit. More often than not, Anakin’s rash instincts were proven right, especially during the Clone Wars, during which time he was training Ahsoka. While it was clear that Anakin had been rubbing off on Ahsoka while they were still officially a master and apprentice duo, the Ahsoka’s show’s premiere episode reveals this may be truer than anyone ever realized.
Ahsoka Used The Dark Side Mind Probe On Morgan
After Ahsoka recovers a star map from a derelict temple, she discusses her find with the Jedi Order’s ancient droid, Huyang. Ahsoka explains that she found the map due to Lady Morgan Elsbeth’s directions. Huyang asks how Ahsoka convinced Morgan to divulge such vital information and Ahsoka replies: “Let’s just say I didn’t follow standard Jedi protocol.” Ahsoka says this line with a hint of mirth, but the underlying message is clear. She must have used the Force, and on someone who could resist like the Dathomirian Nightsister Morgan Elsbeth, it must have been a considerable use of power – perhaps even a dark side power, like the Mind Probe.
In Star Wars canon, the Mind Probe is generally associated with the dark side because of how it affects the intended target’s mind. It’s incredibly invasive and even painful, and, if used incorrectly or too forcefully, can scramble someone’s mind beyond repair. Logically, though, there is no denying its usefulness, as Ahsoka demonstrates by having been able to find the star map. But it’s a slippery slope – the Mind Probe has often been viewed as an extension of the Jedi Mind Trick, something which was proven in the comic book series The Rise of Kylo Ren by Charles Soule, where it is suggested that Ben Solo was able to teach himself the Mind Probe because of his prior experience with the Mind Trick.
Even The Jedi Mind Trick Has Often Been Seen As A Dark Side Power
The Jedi Mind trick can easily be perceived as a dark side power. Like the Mind Probe, the Jedi’s version still invades a person’s thoughts and forces them to comply, taking away their free will. The Jedi don’t use it with malicious intent, but it’s extremely easy to cross the line. During the High Republic Era, many Jedi eschewed the use of the Mind Trick because they felt it could start someone down a dangerous path. Their fears came true during the Clone Wars, as Jedi would sometimes use a more forceful version of the Mind Trick to interrogate prisoners. Interestingly enough, in one particular The Clone Wars scene, it’s Ahsoka herself who suggests a targeted use of the Force on bounty hunter Cad Bane’s mind.
The Clone Wars scene clearly set a precedent for Ahsoka. She was worried about children who were kidnapped and saw combined forceful interrogation as a way to get to the truth faster. Similarly, in Ahsoka, she’s worried about Thrawn’s return and the inevitability of another war. Understandably, she’d use every tool at her disposal to prevent that from happening, even something as strong and vicious as the dark side Mind Probe. Ahsoka may be “no Jedi”, but she needs to be careful as she moves forward in Ahsoka – dominating someone’s mind can be an extremely violent act.
Ahsoka releases new episodes Tuesdays at 6pm PT / 9pm ET on Disney+.