Contents
Summary
- Baylan Skoll’s obsidian ring and Supreme Leader Snoke’s ring share a notable similarity, potentially hinting at a connection between the two villains.
- Obsidian is associated with the dark side of the Force and can serve as a channel for hatred and rage, making it significant in the context of Baylan’s character and powers.
- Baylan Skoll and Supreme Leader Snoke share similarities as powerful dark side villains who pose a threat to the Star Wars heroes, despite not being Sith themselves.
This article contains spoilers for Ahsoka episode 3.Played by the late Ray Stevenson, the mysterious dark Jedi named Baylan Skoll – introduced as a major villain in Ahsoka – seems to have an unlikely connection to Supreme Leader Snoke. Baylan has already proved to be a compelling character, albeit an enigmatic one. He and his apprentice, Ivanno Sakhno’s Shin Hati, appear to be aligned to the dark side of the Force even though Shin has a Jedi Padawan braid.
Unsurprisingly, Ahsoka is absolutely packed with Star Wars Easter eggs. Some of these are rather unlikely, and in one case seem to hint at a subtle connection between Baylan and one of the major villains of the sequel trilogy, Supreme Leader Snoke. It’s unclear whether this will turn out to be significant, but the detail is likely to be intentional.
Both Baylan & Snoke Wear Obsidian Rings
Eagle-eyed Star Wars viewers have noticed that Baylan Skoll appear to be wearing an obsidian ring on his finger. It’s unusual for Jedi – or even former Jedi – to wear such things; in this case, though, it is markedly similar to one Supreme Leader Snoke wore.
These probably aren’t the same rings, but the similarity is still notable. Obsidian is often linked to the dark side of the Force; in the case of Supreme Leader Snoke’s ring, Star Wars tie-ins have confirmed the ring is made from rock extracted from a Sith shrine beneath Darth Vader’s castle on Mustafar. Ahsoka trailers have confirmed Baylan Skoll knew Anakin Skywalker, serving alongside him in the Jedi Order, and he appears to have known Anakin became Darth Vader – still a secret at this time. This raises the possibility he has a Darth Vader connection too, and may have even acquired the obsidian from Mustafar.
Obsidian Can Be A Channel For The Dark Side
Obsidian can be a channel for the dark side, and in fact Darth Vader’s armor was partly made of obsidian. This is because it can be infused with hatred, anger, and rage. In fact, it can even serve as the power source for a red lightsaber, just like a kyber crystal that has been “bled” by a Sith. It’s important to note that, while Baylan has an unusual lightsaber, his is certainly not powered by obsidian; it has a strange orange color, while obsidian-powered lightsabers are red.
Obsidian is a volcanic mineral, usually found at the site of explosive volcanic eruptions. This explains why it is common on Mustafar – and also why that obsidian, at least, is charged with the dark side. Mustafar is a powerful dark side vergence, cursed long ago when an ancient Force user attempted to conquer death. Darth Vader claimed the power of this nexus for himself, and attempted to use it (unsuccessfully) for the same end. It’s unclear whether obsidian is always charged in this way, but its association with destruction suggests it will be.
Baylan Skoll & Snoke Have A Lot Of Similarities In Star Wars
There are curious similarities between Baylan Skoll and Supreme Leader Snoke. Both are powerful dark side villains who pose a great threat to the Star Wars heroes, even though neither is actually a Sith. To be a Sith is to be sworn to their doctrines. Supreme Leader Snoke appeared to be purely self-interested, while Baylan has so far shown a focus on the acquisition of power. This is the whole reason for his alliance with Morgan Elsbeth.
Both Baylan and Snoke seem to be modeled after villains from the Star Wars original trilogy. Snoke was introduced as the Emperor figure, one who had seduced a major hero to the dark side and sought to control the entire galaxy. Meanwhile, Baylan is the Darth Vader of Ahsoka, with many scenes modeled on those featuring Vader in the original trilogy and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Perhaps ironically, both serve a higher master; Baylan has been paid to work for Morgan Elsbeth, while Snoke unwittingly serves Palpatine. It will be interesting to see whether this obsidian ring proves even more important going forward.
New episodes of Ahsoka release every Tuesday at 6pm PT / 9pm ET on Disney+.