When we look at the potential of Ahsoka Season 2, we shouldn’t forget just how special the first season already was. It was absolutely brilliant. However, the second season has the potential to become one of the biggest Star Wars shows we’ve ever seen, perhaps even bigger than The Mandalorian.
The reason? Just how much is at stake. Grand Admiral Thrawn is arguably one of the most dangerous individuals in the entire Star Wars universe, and not because of his physical strength or connection to the Force. It’s because of his intelligence.
Thrawn learns your strengths, weaknesses, culture, psychology and tactics. He doesn’t necessarily need to overpower you because he’s already thinking about how to outmanoeuvre you. This is a man who rose to become one of the highest-ranking military commanders in Palpatine’s Galactic Empire. He was such a dangerous opponent that the only way Ezra Bridger could stop him was by trapping him in an entirely different galaxy.
The fact that he’s returned raises the stakes tenfold, particularly when the galaxy is still in a strange state of uncertainty following the collapse of the Empire after Palpatine was unceremoniously yeeted down a shaft by Darth Vader.
Even with very limited resources throughout the first season, we saw just how much of a menace Thrawn could be. Now that he’s returned to the main galaxy, I cannot wait to see the sheer threat he’s about to impose.
It adds another layer of intrigue when you remember that Ahsoka and Sabine are still trapped on Peridea, leaving the New Republic facing an enormous threat without two of the people who understand just how dangerous Thrawn really is.
However, Thrawn isn’t the only reason I’m excited. There’s another man still on Peridea, seemingly searching for a greater purpose as he stands upon the statues of the Mortis gods. Baylan Skoll’s story has the potential to be absolutely fantastic. His mysterious motivations were one of the most fascinating elements of the first season, and there’s clearly something much bigger happening with his character.
I’m also incredibly curious to see how Rory McCann approaches the role following Ray Stevenson’s exceptional performance before he sadly passed away. Stevenson brought an incredible presence to Baylan, and McCann has some enormous shoes to fill.
It isn’t just Thrawn, Ahsoka and Baylan who have unfinished stories, either. Shin Hati, Baylan’s apprentice, has effectively been abandoned by her master on Peridea. Where does her story go from here? Does she continue following the path Baylan set her on, or does she forge her own future?
Then there’s Anakin Skywalker. His Force ghost appeared in the closing moments of Season 1, suggesting that his relationship with Ahsoka is far from finished. We already know Hayden Christensen is returning as Anakin in the second season, which is something I’m particularly excited about.
Personally, any Star Wars show that centres around the Force and lightsabers already has my attention. It’s one of the reasons I loved the first season as much as I did. But what makes Ahsoka Season 2 so exciting is that we have several major storylines unfolding simultaneously, each with the potential to change the galaxy in completely different ways.
The first season ended on an enormous cliffhanger, but it didn’t feel like a conclusion.
It felt like the beginning.
There’s so much more to explore in the second season, and I’d personally love to see some additional flashback sequences, particularly surrounding Thrawn. For casual viewers who haven’t watched Star Wars Rebels, it would be fantastic to truly demonstrate just how dangerous this man was during the height of the Empire.
With everything now in motion, Ahsoka Season 2 has the potential to deliver something truly extraordinary. And if Dave Filoni can bring these storylines together successfully, we could be looking at one of the most important Star Wars television seasons we’ve ever had.
